THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


GIFT 


THE    FAIR  GOD 
OR,  THE   LAST   OF  THE  TZINS 


&le  of  tlje  Conquest  of 


BY 


LEW  WALLACE 


From  Mexico  ...  a  civilization  that  might  have  instructed  Europe 
was  crushed  out.  ...  It  has  been  her  [Spain's]  evil  destiny  to  ruin 
two  civilizations,  Oriental  and  Occidental,  and  to  be  ruined  thereby 
herself.  ...  In  America  she  destroyed  races  more  civilized  than  her 
self.  —  DRAPER,  Int.  Development  of  Eitrope. 


SEVENTY-FIRST  THOUSAND 


BOSTON  AND  NEW  YORK 
HOUGHTON,  MIFFLIN  AND  COMPANY 

Press, 
iSSS 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1873, 

BY    JAMES    R.    OSGOOD     &    CO., 
to  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington, 


CAMBRIDGE  :    PRINTED  AT   THB   RIVERSIDE  PRESS. 


College 
Library 

P5 
-3/ 
F/5" 


NOTE  BY  THE  AUTHOR 

A  PERSONAL  experience,  though  ever  so  plainly  told, 
is,  generally  speaking,  more  attractive  to  listeners  and 
readers  than  fiction.  A  circumstance  from  the  tongue 
or  pen  of  one  to  whom  it  actually  happened,  or  who 
was  its  hero  or  victim,  or  even  its  spectator,  is  always 
more  interesting  than  if  given  second-hand.  If  the 
makers  of  history,  contradistinguished  from  its  writers, 
could  teach  it  to  us  directly,  one  telling  would  suffice 
to  secure  our  lasting  remembrance.  The  reason  is, 
that  the  narrative  so  proceeding  derives  a  personality 
and  reality  not  otherwise  attainable,  which  assist  in 
making  way  to  our  imagination  and  the  sources  of  our 
sympathy. 

With  this  theory  or  bit  of  philosophy  in  mind,  when 
the  annexed  book  was  resolved  upon,  I  judged  best  to 
assume  the  character  of  a  translator,  which  would  en 
able  me  to  write  in  the  style  and  spirit  of  one  who  not 
merely  lived  at  the  time  of  the  occurrences  woven  in 
the  text,  but  was  acquainted  with  many  of  the  his- 
torical  personages  who  figure  therein,  and  was  a  native 


iv  NOTE  BY  THE  AUTHOR. 

of  the  beautiful  valley  in  which  the  story  is  located. 
Thinking  to  make  the  descriptions  yet  more  real,  and 
therefore  more  impressive,  I  took  the  liberty  of  attrib 
uting  the  composition  to  a  literator  who,  whatever  may 
be  thought  of  his  works,  was  not  himself  a  fiction. 
Without  meaning  to  insinuate  that  THE  FAIR  GOD 
would  have  been  the  worse  for  creation  by  Don  Fer 
nando  de  Alva,  the  Tezcucan,  I  wish  merely  to  say 
that  it  is  not  a  translation.  Having  been  so  written, 
however,  now  that  publication  is  at  hand,  change  is 
impossible ;  hence,  nothing  is  omitted,  —  title-page, 
introductory,  and  conclusion  are  given  to  the  reader 
exactly  as  they  were  brought  to  the  publisher  by  the 

author. 

L.  W. 

Boston    Mass.   Augusts,  1873. 


CONTENTS. 


BOOK    ONE. 

CHAPTER  PAOB 

I.   OUR  MOTHER  HAS  A  FORTUNE  WAITING  us  YONDER      .  1 

II.   QUETZAL',  THE  FAIR  GOD .  7 

III.  A  CHALLENGE 13 

IV.  TENOCHTITLAN  AT  NIGHT     ......  16 

V.   THE  CHILD  OF  THE  TEMPLE 20 

VI.   THE  Cu  OF  QUETZAL',  AND  MUALOX,  THE  PABA       .  25 

,  VII.  THE  PROPHECY  ON  THE  WALL 30 

VIII.   A  BUSINESS  MAN  IN  TENOCHTITLAN  ....  39 
IX.   THE  QUESTIONER  OF  THE  MORNING        .        .        .        .46 

X.   GOING  TO  THE  COMBAT 50 

XI.   THE  COMBAT 59 

XII.  MUALOX,  AND  HIS  WORLD 68 

XIII.  THE  SEARCH  FOR  QUETZAL' 74 


I.  WHO  ARE  THE  STRANGERS  ?  .        .  .        .        .83 

II.  A  TEZCUCAN  LOVER 89 

III.  THE  BANISHMENT  OF  GUATAMOZIN        ....  95 

IV.  GUATAMOZIN    AT    HOME         ......  103 

V.  NIGHT  AT  THE  CHALCAN'S 112 

VI.  THE  CHINAMPA 120 

VII.  COURT  GOSSIP 126 

VIII.  GUATAMOZIN  AND  MUALOX 130 

IX.  A  KING'S  BANQUET 135 

X.  THE  'Tzix's  LOVE 141 

XI.  THE  CHANT  .  150 


Vi  CONTENTS. 


BOOK    THREE. 

I.   THE  FIRST  COMBAT 162 

II.  THE  SECOND  COMBAT 169 

III.  THE  PORTRAIT 180 

IV.  THE  TRIAL  .  ....  183 


BOOK    FOUR. 

I.  THE  KING  GIVES  A  TRUST  TO  HUALPJL         .        .        .192 

II.  THE  -KING-  AND  THE  'TziN 198 

III.  LOVE  ON  THE  LAKE 207 

IV.  THE  KING-  DEMANDS  A  SIGN  or  MUALOX         .        .  214 

V.   THE  MASSACRE  IN  CHOLULA 220 

VI.  THE  CONQUEROR  WILL  COME     .....  230 

VII.    MONTEZUMA   GOES   TO    MEET   CORTEZ          ....  239 

VIII.  THE  ENTRY 246 

BOOK    FIVE. 

I.  PUBLIC  OPINION 257 

if.   A  MESSAGE  FROM  THE  GODS 261 

III.   How  ILLS  OF  STATE  BECOME  ILLS  OF  SOCIETY    .        .  267 

IV.  ENNUYE  IN  THE  OLD  PALACE 275 

V.   ALVARADO  FINDS  THE  LIGHT  OF  THE  WORLD       .         .  282 

VI.  -  THE*  IRON  Cfidss     '  .      ' 291 

VII.   THE  CHRISTIANS 'IN  THE  TOILS 299 

VIII.   THE  iRorf  CROSS  COMES  BACK  TO  ITS  GIVER    .        .  306 

IX.   TRULY  WONDERFUL  —  A  FORTUNATE  MAN  HATH  A  MEMORY  315 

X.   How  THE  IRON  CROSS  CAME  BACK    ....  317 

XL  THE  CHRISTIAN  TAKES  CARE  OF'  HIS  OWN    .        .        .  325 

BOOK    SIX. 

I.   THE  LORD  HUALPA  FLEES  HIS  FORTUNE       .        .         .  339 

II.   WHOM  THE  GODS  DESTROY  THEY  FIKST  MAKE  MAD    .  347 


CONTENTS.  vii 


III.   THE  PUBLIC  OPINION  MAKES  WAY       ....  357 

IV.   THE  'TziN's  FAREWELL  TO  QUETZAL'        ...  364 

V.  THE  CELLS  OF  QUETZAL'  AGAIN 374 

VL   LOST  IN  THE  OLD  Cu 379 

VII.  How  THE  HOLY  MOTHER  HELPS  HEE  CHILDEEN         .  385 
VIII.   THE  PABA'S  ANGEL 392 

IX.   LIFE  IN  THE  PABA'S  WOELD 404 

X.   THE  ANGEL  BECOMES  A  BEADSWOMAX      .        .        .  410 

XL  THE  PUBLIC  OPINION  PROCLAIMS  ITSELF  —  BATTLE     .  427 

BOOK    SEVEN. 

- 

I.  THE  HEART  CAN  BE  WISER  THAN  THE  HEAD    .        .  438 

II.   THE  CONQUEROR  ON  THE  CAUSEWAY  AGAIN  .        .  449 

III.   LA  VIRUELA 454 

IV.     MONTEZUMA    A    PROPHET. HlS    PROPHECY       .  .  455 

V.     HOW  TO    YIELD    A    CROWN 462 

VI.  IN  THE  LEAGUER 465 

VIL   IN  THE  LEAGUER  YET          ......  473 

VIII.  THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  MANTAS          ....  481 
IX.   OVER  THE  WALL,  —  INTO  THE  PALACE      .        .        .  489 

X.   THE  WAY  THROUGH  THE  WALL      ....  499 

XI.   BATTLE  IN  THE  AIR 510 

XII.   IN  THE  INTERVAL  OF  THE  BATTLE  —  LOVE     .        .  524 

XIII.  THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  END     ..."..  527 

XIV.   THE  KING  BEFORE  HIS  PEOPLE  AGAIN  .        .        .  532 

XV.  THE  DEATH  OF  MONTEZUMA 544 

XVI.   ADIEU  TO  THE  PALACE 550 

XVII.   THE  PURSUIT  BEGINS 559 

XVIII.  LA  NOCHE  TEISTE 562 


THE    FAIR    GOD 


FROM   THE    SPANISH    OF 


FERNANDO    DE    ALVA. 


IKTEODUCTOEY. 


DE  ALVA,*  a  noble  Tezcucan,  flour- 
ished,  we  are  told,  in  the  beginning  of  the  six 
teenth  century.  He  was  a  man  of  great  learning, 
familiar  with  the  Mexican  and  Spanish  languages, 
and  the  hieroglyphics  of  Anahuac.  Ambitious  to 
rescue  his  race  from  oblivion,  and  inspired  by  love 
of  learning,  he  collected  a  library,  availed  himself  of 
his  knowledge  of  picture-writing,  became  master  of 
the  songs  and  traditions,  and,  in  the  Castilian  lan 
guage,  composed  books  of  merit. 

It  was  scarcely  possible  that  his  labors  should  escape 
the  researches  of  Mr.  Prescott,  who,  with  such  incom 
parable  genius,  has  given  the  world  a  history  of  the 
Conquest  of  Mexico.  From  him  we  have  a  criticism 
upon  the  labors  of  the  learned  Fernando,  from  which 
the  following  paragraph  is  extracted. 

"  Iztlilzochitl's  writings  have  many  of  the  defects 
belonging  to  his  age.  He  often  crowds  the  page  with 
incidents  of  a  trivial  and  sometimes  improbable  char 
acter.  The  improbability  increases  with  the  distance 

*  Fernando  De  Alva  Iztlilzochitl. 


INTKODUCTORY. 


of  the  period;  for  distance,  which  diminishes  objects 
to  the  natural  eye,  exaggerates  them  to  the  mental. 
His  chronology,  as  I  have  more  than  once  noticed,  is 
inextricably  entangled.  He  has  often  lent  a  too  will 
ing  ear  to  traditions  and  reports  which  would  startle 
the  more  sceptical  criticism  of  the  present  time.  Yet 
there  is  an  appearance  of  good  faith  and  simplicity 
in  his  writings,  which  may  convince  the  reader  that, 
when  he  errs,  it  is  from  no  worse  cause  than  the 
national  partiality.  And  surely  such  partiality  is  ex 
cusable  in  the  descendant  of  a  proud  line,  shorn  of 
its  ancient  splendors,  which  it  was  soothing  to  his 
own  feelings  to  revive  again  —  though  with  some 
thing  more  than  their  legitimate  lustre  —  on  the  can 
vas  of  history.  It  should  also  be  considered  that,  if 
his  narrative  is  sometimes  startling,  his  researches 
penetrate  into  the  mysterious  depths  of  antiquity, 
where  light  and  darkness  meet  and  melt  into  each 
other;  and  where  everything  is  still  further  liable  to 
distortion,  as  seen  through  the  misty  medium  of  hiero 
glyphics." 

Besides  his  Relaciones  and  Historia  Chichemeca,  De 
Alva  composed  works  of  a  lighter  nature,  though 
equally  based  upon  history.  Some  were  lost ;  others 
fell  into  the  hands  of  persons  ignorant  of  their  value ; 
a  few  only  were  rescued  and  given  to  the  press.  For 
a  considerable  period  he  served  as  interpreter  to  the 
Spanish  Viceroy.  His  duties  as  such  were  trifling^ 


INTRODUCTORY.  xiii 

he  had  ample  time  for  literary  pursuits;  his  enthu 
siasm  as  a  scholar  permitted  him  no  relaxation  or  idle 
ness.  Thus  favored,  it  is  believed  he  composed  the 
books  now  for  the  first  time  given  to  the  world. 

The  MSS.  were  found  among  a  heap  of  old  de 
spatches  from  the  Viceroy  Mendoza  to  the  Emperor. 
It  is  quite  probable  that  they  became  mixed  with 
the  State  papers  through  accident;  if,  however,  they 
were  purposely  addressed  to  His  Majesty,  it  must 
have  been  to  give  him  a  completer  idea  of  the  Azte- 
can  people  and  their  civilization,  or  to  lighten  the 
burthens  of  royalty  by  an  amusement  to  which,  it 
is  known,  Charles  V.  was  not  averse.  Besides,  Men 
doza,  in  his  difficulty  with  the  Marquess  of  the  Valley 
(Cortes),  failed  not  to  avail  himself  of  every  means 
likely  to  propitiate  his  cause  with  the  court,  and 
especially  with  the  Royal  Council  of  the  Indies.  It 
is  not  altogether  improbable,  therefore,  that  the  MSS. 
were  forwarded  for  the  entertainment  of  the  members 
of  the  Council  and  the  lordly  personages  of  the  Court, 
who  not  only  devoured  with'  avidity,  but,  as  the  wily 
Mendoza  well  knew,  were  vastly  obliged  for,  every 
thing  relative  to  the  New  "World,  and  particularly  the 
dazzling  conquest  of  Mexico. 

In  the  translation,  certain  liberties  have  been  taken, 
for  which,  if  wrong  has  been  done,  pardon  is  besought 
both  from  the  public  and  the  shade  of  the  author. 
Thus,  The  Books  in  the  original  are  unbroken  narra- 


XIV  INTRODUCTORY. 


lives;  but,  with  infinite  care  and  trouble,  they  have 
all  been  brought  out  of  the  confusion,  and  arranged 
into  chapters.  So,  there  were  names,  some  of  which 
have  been  altogether  changed ;  while  others,  for  the 
sake  of  euphony,  have  been  abbreviated,  though  with 
out  sacrificing  the  identity  of  the  heroes  who  wor<f 
them  so  proudly. 
And  thus  beginneth  the  FIRST  BOOK. 


THE   FAIR   GOD. 

BOOK    ONE. 

CHAPTEE  I. 

OUR  MOTHER  HAS   A  FORTUNE   WAITING   US   YONDER. 

fTlHE  Spanish  Calendar  is  simpler  than  the  Aztecan. 
I  In  fact,  Christian  methods,  of  whatever  nature,  are 
better  than  heathen. 

So,  then,  by  the  Spanish  Calendar,  March,  1519,  had 
about  half  spent  itself  in  the  valley  of  Anahuac,  which 
was  as  yet  untrodden  by  gold-seeker,  with  cross-hilted  sword 
at  his  side,  and  on  his  lips  a  Catholic  oath.  Near  noon  of 
one  of  its  fairest  days  a  traveller  came  descending  the  west 
ern  slope  of  the  Sierra  de  Ahualco.  Since  the  dawn  his 
path  had  been  amongst  hills  and  crags  ;  at  times  traversing 
bald  rocks  that  towered  to  where  the  winds  blew  chill,  then 
dipping  into  warm  valleys,  where  were  grass,  flowers,  and 
streamlets,  and  sometimes  forests  of  cedar  and  fir,  —  laby 
rinths  in  which  there  reigned  a  perpetual  twilight. 

Toilsome  as  was  the  way,  the  traveller,  young  and  -strong, 
marched  lightly.  His  dress,  of  the  kind  prevalent  in  his 
country,  was  provincial,  and  with  few  signs  of  rank.  He 
had  sandals  of  buffalo-hide,  fitted  for  climbing  rocks  and 
threading  pathless  woods  ;  a  sort  of  white  tunic,  covering 
his  body  from  the  neck  to  the  knees,  leaving  bare  the  arms 

1  A 


THE  FAIR  GOD. 


from  the  shoulder  ;  maxtlatl  and  tilmatli  —  sash  and  mantle 
—  of  cotton,  blue  tinted,  and  void  of  ornament ;  on  the 
wrist  of  his  left  arm  he  wore  a  substantial  golden  bracelet, 
and  in  both  ears  jewelled  pendants  ;  while  an  ebony  band, 
encircling  his  head,  kept  his  straight  black  locks  in  place, 
and  permitted  a  snow-white  bird's-wing  for  decoration. 
There  was  a  shield  on  his  left  arm,  framed  of  wood,  and 
covered  with  padded  cloth,  and  in  the  left  hand  a  javelin 
barbed  with  'itzli ;  at  his  back  swung  a  maquahuitl,  and  a 
quiver  filled  with  arrows ;  an  unstrung  bow  in  his  right 
hand  completed  his  equipments,  and  served  him  in  lieu 
of  staff.  An  ocelot,  trudging  stealthily  behind  him,  was 
his  sole  companion. 

In  the  course  of  his  journey  he  came  to  a  crag  that  sank 
bluffly  down  several  hundred  feet,  commanding  a  fine  pros 
pect.  Though  the  air  was  cold,  he  halted.  Away  to 
the  northwest  stretched  the  beautiful  valley  of  Anahuac, 
dotted  with  hamlets  and  farm-houses,  and  marked  with  the 
silver  tracery  of  streams.  Far  across  the  plain,  he  caught  a ' 
view  of  the  fresh  waters  of  Lake  Chalco,  and  beyond  that, 
blue  in  the  distance  and  faintly  relieved  against  the  sky,  the 
royal  hill  of  Chapultepec,  with  its  palaces  and  cypress  forests. 
In  all  the  Xew  World  there  was  no  scene  comparable  with 
that  he  looked  upon,  —  none  its  rival  for  beauty,  none 
where  the  heavens  seemed  so  perfectly  melted  into  earth. 
There  were  the  most  renowned  cities  of  the  Empire  ;  from 
that  plain  went  the  armies  whose  marches  were  all  triumphs ; 
in  that  air  hovered  the  gods  awaiting  sacrifices ;  into  that  sky 
rose  the  smoke  of  the  inextinguishable  fires ;  there  shone 
the  brightest  suns,  and  lingered  the  longest  summers  ;  and 
yonder  dwelt  that  king  —  in  youth  a  priest,  then  a  warrior, 
now  the  terror  of  all  nations  —  whose  signet  on  the  hand  of 
a  slave  could  fill  the  land  with  rustling  of  banners. 

No  traveller,  I  ween,  could  look  unmoved  on  the  picture ; 


OUR  MOTHER  HAS  A  FORTUNE  WAITING  US  YONDER.       b 

ours  sat  down,  and  gazed  with  brimful  eyes  and  a  beating 
heart.  For  the  first  time  he  was  beholding  the  matchless 
vale  so  overhung  with  loveliness  and  full  of  the  monuments 
of  a  strange  civilization.  So  rapt  was  he  that  he  did  not 
observe  the  ocelot  come  and  lay  its  head  in  his  lap,  like  a 
dog  seeking  caresses.  "  Come,  boy  !  "  he  said,  at  last  rous 
ing  himself;  "let  us  on.  Our  Mother*  has  a  fortune  wait 
ing  us  yonder." 

And  they  resumed  the  journey.  Half  an  hour's  brisk  walk 
brought  them  to  the  foot  of  the  moiintain.  Suddenly  they 
came  upon  company. 

It  was  on  the  bank  of  a  considerable  stream,  which,  pour 
ing  in  noisy  torrent  over  a  rocky  bed,  appeared  to  rush  with 
a  song  forward  into  the  valley.  A  clump  of  giant  oaks 
shaded  a  level  sward.  Under  them  a  crowd  of  tamanes,^ 
tawny,  half-clad,  broad-shouldered  men,  devoured  loaves  of 
cold  maize  bread.  Near  the  roots  of  the  trees  their  masters 
reclined  comfortably  on  petates,  or  mats,  without  which  an 
Aztec  trader's  outfit  was  incomplete.  Our  traveller  under 
stood  at  a  glance  the  character  of  the  strangers ;  so  that,  as 
his  road  led  directly  to  them,  he  went  on  without  hesi 
tation.  As  he  carne  near,  some  of  them  sat  up  to  observe 
Mm. 

"  A  warrior  going  to  the  city,"  said  one. 

"  Or  rather  a  king's  courier,"  suggested  another. 

"  Is  not  that  an  ocelot  at  his  heels  ] "  asked  a  third. 

"  That  it  is.     Bring  me  my  javelin  !  " 

"  And  mine  !  And  mine  !  "  cried  several  of  them  at  once, 
all  springing  to  their  feet. 

By  the  time  the  young  man  came  up,  the  whole  party 
stood  ready  to  give  him  an  armed  welcome. 

*  The  goddess  Cioacoatl,  called  "Our  Lady  and  Mother."    Sahagun, 
Hist,  de  Nueva  Esp. 
t  Carrier  slaves,  or  porters. 


THE   FAIR  GOD. 


"  I  am  very  sorry  to  have  disturbed  you,"  he  said,  quietly 
finding  himself  obliged  to  stop. 

"  You  seem  friendly  enough,"  answered  one  of  the  older 
men  ;  "  but  your  comrade  there,  —  what  of  him  1 " 

The  traveller  smiled.     "  See,  he  is  muzzled." 

The  party  laughed  at  their  own  fears.  The  old  merchant, 
however,  stepped  forward  to  the  young  stranger. 

"  I  confess  you  have  greatly  relieved  me.  I  feared  the 
brute  might  set  on  and  wound  somebody.  Come  up,  and  sit 
down  with  us." 

The  traveller  was  nowise  disinclined,  being  tempted  by  the 
prospect  of  cheer  from  the  provision-baskets  lying  around. 

"  Bring  a  mat  for  the  warrior,"  said  the  friendly  trader. 
"  'Now  give  him  bread  and  meat." 

From  an  abundance  of  bread,  fowl,  and  fruit  the  wayfarer 
helped  himself.  A  running  conversation  was  meantime 
maintained. 

"  My  ocelot  ?  The  story  is  simple  ;  for  your  sakes,  good 
friends,  I  wish  it  were  better.  I  killed  his  mother,  and  took 
him  when  a  whelp.  Now  he  does  me  good  service  hunting. 
You  should  see  him  in  pursuit  of  an  antelope  ! " 

"  Then  you  are  not  a  warrior  1 " 

"  To  be  a  warrior,"  replied  the  hunter,  modestly,  "  is  to 
have  been  in  many  battles,  and  taken  many  captives.  I 
have  practised  arms,  and,  at  times,  .boasted  of  skill,  —  fool 
ishly,  perliaps ;  yet,  I  confess,  I  never  marched  a  day  under 
the  banner  of  the  great  king." 

"  Ah  !  "  said  the  old  man,  quizzically,  "  I  understand  you. 
Fou  have  served  some  free-trading  company  like  our  own." 

"  You  are  shrewd.  My  father  is  .a  merchant.  At  times 
he  has  travelled  with  strong  trains,  and  even  attacked  cities 
that  have  refused  him  admission  to  their  market." 

"  Indeed  !  He  must  be  of  renown.  In  what  province 
does  he  live,  my  son  1 " 


OUK  MOTHER  HAS  "A  FORTUNE  WAITING  I;  3   YONDER.    5 

"  In  Tihuanco." 

"  Tepaja !  old  Tepaja,  of  Tihuanco !  Are  you  son  of 
his  1 "  The  good  man  grasped  the  young  one's  hand  enthusi 
astically.  "  I  knew  him  well ;  many  years  ago  we  were  as 
brothers  together;  we  travelled  and  traded  through  many 
provinces.  That  was  the  day  of  the  elder  Montezuma,  when 
the  Empire  was  not  as  large  as  now ;  when,  in  fact,  most 
gates  were  closed  against  us,  because  our  king  was  an  Aztec, 
and  we  had  to  storm  a  town,  then  turn  its  square  into  a 
market  for  the  sale  of  our  wares.  Sometimes  we  marched 
an  army,  each  of  us  carrying  a  thousand  slaves ;  and  yet  our 
tasks  were  not  always  easy.  I  remember  once,  down  on  the 
bank  of  the  Great  River,  we  were  beaten  back  from  a  walled 
town,  and  succeeded  only  after  a  four  days'  fight.  Ah,  but 
we  made  it  win !  We  led  three  thousand  slaves  back  to 
Tenochtitlan,  besides  five  hundred  captives,  —  a  present  for 
the  gods." 

So  the  merchant  talked  until  the  hunger  of  his  new  ac 
quaintance  was  appeased ;  then  he  offered  a  pipe,  which  was 
declined. 

"  I  am  fond  of  a  pipe  after  a  good  meal ;  and  this  one  has 
been  worthy  a  king.  But  now  I  have  no  leisure  for  the 
luxury ;  the  city  to  which  I  am  bound  is  too  far  ahead  of 
me." 

"If  it  is  your  first  visit,  you  are  right.  Fail  not  to  be 
there  before  the  market  closes.  Such  a  sight  never  glad 
dened  your  dreams  ! " 

"  So  I  have  heard  my  father  say." 

"0,  it  never  was  as  it  will  be  to-night !  The  roads  for 
days  have  been  thronged  with  visitors  going  up  in  proces 
sions." 

"  What  is  the  occasion  ? " 

"  Why,  to-morrow  is  the  celebration  of  Quetzal' !  Cer 
tainly,  my  son,  you  have  heard  the  prophecies  concerning 
that  god." 


THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  In  rumors  only.    I  believe  lie  was  to  return  to  Anahuac." 

"  Well,  i>o  story  is  long,  and  you  are  in  a  hurry.     We 

also  are  going  to  the  city,  but  will  halt  our  slaves  at  Iztapa- 

rapan  lor  the  night,  and  cross  the  causeway  before  the  sun 

to-morrow.     If  you  care  to  keep  us  company,  we  will  start 

.  at  once  ;  on  the  way  I  will  tell  you  a  few  things  that  may 

'  not  be  unacceptable." 

"  I  see,''  said  the  hunter,  pleasantly,  "  I  have  reason  to  be 
proud  of  my  father's  good  report.  Certainly,  I  will  go  a  dis 
tance  with  you  at  least,  and  thank  you  for  information.  To 
speak  frankly,  I  am  seeking  my  fortune." 

The  merchant  spoke  to  his  companions,  and  raising  a  huge 
conch-shell  to  his  mouth,  blew  a  blast  that  started  every 
slave  to  his  feet.  For  a  few  minutes  all  was  commotion. 
The  mats  were  rolled  up,  and,  with  the  provision-baskets, 
slung  upon  broad  shoulders ;  each  tamane  resumed  his  load 
of  wares,  and  took  his  place ;  those  armed  put  themselves, 
with  their  masters,  at  the  head ;  and  at  another  peal  from 
the  shell  all  set  forward.  The  column,  if  such  it  may  be 
called,  was  long,  and  not  without  a  certain  picturesqueness 
as  it  crossed  the  stream,  and  entered  a  tract  covered  with  tall 
trees,  amongst  which  the  palm  was  strangely  intermingled 
with  the  oak  and  the  cypress.  The  whole  valley,  from  the 
lake  to  the  mountains,  was  irrigated,  and  under  cultivation. 
Full  of  wonder,  the  hunter  marched  beside  the  merchant. 


QUETZAL',   THE  FAIR  GOD. 


CHAPTER  II. 
QUETZAL',  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

"  T  WAS  speaking  about  Quetzal',  I  believe,"  said  the  old 
-L  man,  when  all  were  fairly  on  the  way.  "His  real  name 
was  Quetzalcoatl.*  He  was  a  wonderfully  kind  god,  who,  many 
ages  ago,  came  into  the  valley  here,  and  dwelt  awhile.  The 
people  were  then  rude  and  savage  ;  but  he  taught  them  agri 
culture,  and  other  arts,  of  which  you  will  see  signs  as  we  get 
on.  He  changed  the  manners  and  customs  ;  while  he  stayed, 
famine  was  unknown ;  the  harvests  were  abundant,  and 
happiness  universal.  Above  all,  he  taught  the  princes  wis 
dom  in  their  government.  If  to-day  the  Aztec  Empire  is  the 
strongest  in  the  world,  it  is  owing  to  Quetzal'.  Where  he 
came  from,  or  how  long  he  stayed,  is  not  known.  The  peo 
ple  and  their  governors  after  a  time  proved  ungrateful,  and 
banished  him ;  they  also  overthrew  his  religion,  and  set  up 
idols  again,  and  sacrificed  men,  both  of  which  he  had  pro 
hibited.  Driven  away,  he  went  to  Cholula ;  thence  to  the 
sea-coast,  where,  it  is  said,  he  built  him  a  canoe  of  serpent- 
skins,  and  departed  for  Tlapallan,  a  heaven  lying  somewhere 
toward  the  rising  sun.  But  before  he  went,  he  promised  to 
return  some  day,  and  wrest  away  the  Empire  and  restore  his 
own  religion.  In  appearance  he  was  not  like  our  race  ;  his 
skin  was  white,  his  hair  long  and  wavy  and  black.  He  is 
said  to  have  been  wise  as  a  god,  and  more  beautiful  than 
men.  Such  is  his  history ;  and,  as  the  prophecy  has  it,  the 
time  of  his  return  is  at  hand.  The  king  and  Tlalac,  the 
teotuctli,^  are  looking  for  him  ;  they  expect  him  every  hour, 

*  In  Aztec  mythology,  God  of  the  Air. 
t  Equivalent  to  Pontiff  or  Pope. 


8  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


and,  they  say,  live  in  continued  dread  of  him.  Wishing  to 
propitiate  him,  they  have  called  the  people  together,  and  cele 
brate  to-morrow,  with  sacrifices  and  combats  and  more  pomp 
than  was  ever  seen  before,  not  excepting  the  time  of  the  king's 
coronation." 

The  hunter  listened  closely,  and  at  the  conclusion  said,' 
"  Thank  you,  uncle.  Tell  me  now  of  the  combats." 

"  Yes.  In  the  days  of  the  first  kings  it  was  the  custom  to 
go  into  the  temples,  choose  the  bravest  warriors  there  set 
apart  for  sacrifice,  bring  them  into  the  tianguez,  and  make 
them  do  battle  in  the  presence  of  the  people.  If  they  con 
quered,  they  were  set  free  and  sent  home  with  presents."* 

"  With  whom  did  they  combat  1 " 

"  True  enough,  my  son.  The  fight  was  deemed  a  point  of 
honor  amongst  the  Aztecs,  and  the  best  of  them  volunteered. 
Indeed,  those  were  royal  times  !  Of  late,  I  am  sorry  to  say, 
the  custom  of  which  I  was  speaking  has  been  neglected,  but 
to-morrow  it  is  to  be  revived.  The  scene  will  be  very  grand. 
The  king  and  all  the  nobles  will  be  there." 

The  description  excited  the  listener's  fancy,  and  he  said, 
with  flushed  cheeks,  "  I  would  not  lose  the  chance  for  the 
world.  Can  you  tell  me  who  of  the  Aztecs  will  combat  1 " 

"  In  the  city  we  could  easily  find  out ;  but  you  must 
recollect  I  am  going  home  after  a  long  absence.  The  shields 
of  the  combatants  are  always  exhibited  in  the  tianguez  the 
evening  before  the  day  of  the  fight.  In  that  way  the  public 
are  notified  beforehand  of  those  who  take  the  field.  As  the 
city  is  full  of  caciques,  you  may  be  assured  our  champions 
will  be  noble." 

"  Thank  you  again,  uncle.  And  now,  as  one  looking  for 
service,  like  myself,  is  anxious  to  know  with  whom  to  en 
gage,  tell  me  of  the  caciques  and  chiefs." 

"  Then  you  intend  entering  the  army  1 " 

*  Suhagnn,  Hist,  de  Nueva  Esp. 


QUETZAL',  THE   FAIR  GOD.  9 

<4  "Well,  yes.  I  am  tired  of  hunting  ;  and  though  trading 
is  honorable,  I  have  no  taste  for  it." 

The  merchant,  as  if  deliberating,  took  out  a  box  of  snuff 
and  helped  himself ;  and  then  he  replied,  — 

"  The  caciques  are  very  numerous ;  in  no  former  reign, 
probably,  were  there  so  many  of  ability  and  renown.  With 
some  of  them  I  have  personal  acquaintance  ;  others  I  know 
only  by  sight  or  reputation.  You  had  better  mention  those 
of  whom  you  have  been  thinking." 

"  Well,"  said  the  hunter,  "  there  is  IzthT,  the  Tezcucan."  * 

"  Do  not  think  of  him,  I  pray  you  !  "  And  the  good  man 
spoke  earnestly.  "  He  is  brave  as  any,  and  perhaps  as  skil 
ful,  but  proud,  haughty,  soured,  and  treacherous.  Every 
body  fears  him.  I  suppose  you  have  heard  of  his  father." 

"  You  mean  the  wise  'Hualpilli  ]  " 

"  Yes.  Upon  his  death,  not  long  since,  Iztlil'  denied  his 
brother's  right  to  the  Tezcucan  throne.  There  was  a  quarrel 
which  would  have  ended  in  blood,  had  not  Montezuma  inter 
fered,  and  given  the  city  to  Cacama,  and  all  the  northern 
part  of  the  province  to  Iztlil'.  Since  that,  the  latter  has 
been  discontented  with  the  great  king.  So,  I  say  again,  do 
not  think  of  him,  unless  you  are  careless  about  honor." 

"  Then  what  of  Cacama  1 1     Tezcuco  is  a  goodly  city." 

"He  has  courage,  but  is  too  effeminate  to  be  a  great 
warrior.  A  garden  and  a  soft  couch  delight  him  more  than 
camps,  and  dancing  women  better  than  fighting  men.  You 
might  grow  rich  with  him,  but  not  renowned.  Look  else 
where." 

"  Then  there  is  the  lord  Cuitlahua."  J 

"  The  king's  brother,  and  governor  of  Iztapalapan  !  "  said 
the  merchant,  promptly.  "  Some  have  thought  him  better 

»  Txtlilxpchitl,  son  of  Nezahualpilli,  king  of  Tezcuco. 

•\"  King  of  Tezcuco. 

J  See  Prescott's  Conq.  of  Mexico. 


10  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


qualified  for  Chapultepec  than  Montezuma,  but  it  is  not  wise 
to  say  so.  His  people  are  prosperous,  and  he  has  the  most 
beautiful  gardens  in  the  world ;  unlike  Cacama,  he  cares 
nothing  for  them,  when  there  is  a  field  to  be  fought.  Con 
sidering  his  influence  at  court  and  his  love  of  war,  you 
would  do  well  to  bear  shield  for  him ;  but,  on  the  other 
hand,  he  is  old.  Were  I  in  your  place,  my  son,  I  would 
attach  myself  to  some  young  man." 

"That  brings  me  to  Maxtla,  the  Tesoyucan." 

"  I  know  him  only  by  repute.  AYith  scarcely  a  beard,  he 
is  chief  of  the  king's  guard.  There  was  never  anything  like 
his  fortune.  Listen  now,  I  will  tell  you  a  secret  which  may 
be  of  value  to  you  some  time.  The  king  is  not  as  young  as 
he  used  to  be  by  quite  forty  summers." 

The  hunter  smiled  at  the  caution  with  wliich  the  old  man 
spoke  of  the  monarch. 

"  You  see,"  the  speaker  continued,  "  time  and  palace  life 
have  changed  him  :  he  no  longer  leads  the  armies  ;  his  days 
are  passed  in  the  temples  with  the  priests,  or  in  the  gardens 
with  his  women,  of  whom  there  are  several  hundreds  ;  his 
most  active  amusement  now  is  to  cross  the  lake  to  his  forests, 
and  kill  birds  and  rabbits  by  blowing  little  arrows  at  them 
through  a  reed.  Thus  changed,  you  can  very  well  under 
stand  how  he  can  be  amused  by  songs  and  wit,  and  make 
favorites  of  those  who  best  lighten  his  hours  of  satiety  and 
indolence.  In  that  way  Maxtla  rose,  —  a  marvellous  court 
ier,  but  a  very  common  soldier." 

The  description  amused  the  young  man.  but  he  said  gravely, 
"You  have  spoken  wisely,  uncle,  and  I  am  satisfied  you  know 
the  men  well.  Really,  I  had  no  intention  of  entering  the 
suite  of  either  of  them  :  they  are  not  of  my  ideal ;  but  there 
is  a  cacique,  if  reports  are  to  be  credited,  beyond  all  excep 
tion,  —  learned  and  brave,  honored  alike  by  high  and  low." 

"  Ah  !  you  need  not  name  him  to  me.     I  know  him,  aa 


QUETZAL',   THE  FAIR  GOD.  11 

who  does  not  1 "  And  now  the  merchant  spoke  warmly. 
"  A  nobler  than  Guatamozia,*  —  or,  as  he  is  more  commonly 
called,  the  'tzin  Guatamo  —  never  dwelt  in  Anahuac.  He 
is  the  people's  friend,  and  the  Empire's  hope.  His  valor  and 
wisdom,  —  ah,  you  should  see  him,  my  son  !  Such  a  face ! 
His  manner  is  so  full  of  sweet  dignity  !  But  I  will  give  you 
other  evidence." 

He  clapped  his  hands  three  times,  and  a  soldier  sprang 
forward  at  the  signal. 

"  Do  you  know  the  'tzin  Guatamo  ?  "  asked  the  merchant. 

"  I  am  an  humble  soldier,  my  master,  and  the  'tzin  is  the 
great  king's  nephew  ;  but  I  know  him.  When  he  was  only 
a  boy,  I  served  under  him  in  Tlascala.  He  is  the  best  chief 
in  Anahuac." 

"  That  will  do." 

The  man  retired. 

"  So  I  might  call  up  my  tamanes,"  the  merchant  resumed, 
"  and  not  one  but  would  speak  of  him  in  the  same  way." 

"  Strange  !  "  said  the  Tihuancan,  in  a  low  tone. 

"  No ;  if  you  allude  to  his  popularity,  it  is  not  strange  :  if 
you  mean  the  man  himself,  you  are  right.  The  gods  seldom 
give  the  qualities  that  belong  to  him.  He  is  more  learned 
than  Tlalac  or  the  king ;  he  is  generous  as  becomes  a  prince ; 
in  action  he  is  a  hero.  You  have  probably  heard  of  the 
Tlascalan  wall  in  the  eastern  valley  ;  t  few  warriors  ever 
passed  it  and  lived  ;  yet  he  did  so  when  almost  a  boy.  I 

*  Guatamozin,  nephew  to  Montezuma.  Of  him  Bernal  Diaz  says  : 
"  This  monarch  was  between  twenty-three  and  twenty-four  years  of  age, 
and  could  in  all  truth  be  called  a  handsome  man,  both  as  regards  his  coun 
tenance  and  figure.  His  face  was  rather  of  an  elongated  form,  with  a  cheer 
ful  look  ;  his  eye  had  great  expression,  both  when  he  assumed  a  majestic 
expression,  or  when  he  looked  pleasantly  around  ;  the  color  of  his  face  in 
clined  to  white  more  than  to  the  copper-brown  tint  of  the  Indians  in  gen 
eral." —  DIAZ,  Conquest  of  Mexico,  Lockhart's  Trans.,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  110. 

f  Presoott's  Conq.  of  Mexico,  Vol.  I. ,  p.  417. 


12  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


myself  have  seen  him  send  an  arrow  to  the  heart  of  an  eagla 
in  its  flight.  He  has  a  palace  and  garden  in  Iztapalapan  ;  in 
one  of  the  halls  stand  the  figures  of  three  kings,  two  of 
Michuaca,  and  one  of  the  Ottomies.  He  took  them  prisoners 
in  battle,  and  now  they  hold  torches  at  his  feasts." 

"  Enough,  enough ! "  cried  the  hunter.  "  I  have  been  dream 
ing  of  him  while  among  the  hills.  I  want  no  better  leader." 

The  merchant  cast  an  admiring  glance  at  his  beaming 
countenance,  and  said,  "  You  are  right ;  enter  his  service." 

In  such  manner  the  conversation  was  continued,  until  the 
sun  fast  declined  towards  the  western  mountains.  Mean 
time,  they  had  passed  through  several  hamlets  and  consider 
able  towns.  In  nearly  the  whole  progress,  the  way  on  either 
hand  had  been  lined  with  plantations.  Besides  the  presence 
of  a  busy,  thriving  population,  they  everywhere  saw  evi 
dences  of  a  cultivation  and  science,  constituting  the  real 
superiority  of  the  Aztecs  over  their  neighbors.  The  country 
was  thus  preparing  the  stranger  for  the  city,  unrivalled  in 
splendor  and  beauty.  Casting  a  look  toward  the  sun,  he  at 
length  said,  "  Uncle,  I  have  much  to  thank  you  for,  —  you 
and  your  friends.  But  it  is  growing  late,  and  I  must  hurry 
on,  if  I  would  see  the  tianguez  before  the  market  closes." 

"  Very  well,"  returned  the  old  trader.  "  We  will  be  iii 
the  city  to-morrow.  The  gods  go  with  you  !  " 

Whistling  to  his  ocelot,  the  adventurer  quicken*«d  his 
pace,  and  was  soon  far  in  the  advance. 


A  CHALLENGE.  13 


CHAPTER  III. 

A    CHALLENGE. 

IN  the  valley  of  Anahuac,  at  the  time  I  write,  are  four 
lakes,  —  Xaltocan,  Chalco,  Xochichalco,  and  Tezcuco. 
The  'atter,  besides  being  the  largest,  washed  the  walls  of 
Tcnonhtitlan,  and  was  the  especial  pride  of  the  Aztecs,  who, 
familiar  with  its  ways  as  with  the  city,  traversed  them  all 
the  days  of  the  year,  and  even  the  nights. 

"  Ho,  there !  "  shouted  a  voyageur,  in  a  voice  that  might 
have  been  heard  a  long  distance  over  the  calm  expanse  of  the 
lake.  "  Ho,  the  canoe  !  " 

The  hail  was  answered. 

"  Is  it  Guatamozin  1 "  asked  the  first  speaker. 

"  Yes." 

"  And  going  to  Tenochtitlan  ? " 

"  The  gods  willing,  —  yes." 

The  canoes  of  the  voyageur s  —  I  use  that  term  be 
cause  it  more  nearly  expresses  the  meaning  of  the  word 
the  Aztecs  themselves  were  wont  to  apply  to  persons  thus 
abroad  —  were,  at  the  time,  about  the  middle  of  the  little 
sea.  After  the  'tzin's  reply,  they  were  soon  alongside, 
when  lashings  were  applied,  and  together  they  swept  on 
rapidly,  for  the  slaves  at  the  paddles  vied  in  skill  and  dis 
cipline. 

"Iztlil',  of  Tezcuco!"  said  the  'tzin,  lightly.  "He  is 
welcome ;  but  had  a  messenger  asked  me  where  at  this  hour 
he  would  most  likely  be  found,  I  should  have  bade  him 
search  the  chinampas^  especially  those  most  notable  for  their 
perfume  and  music." 

The  speech  was  courteous,  yet  the  moment  of  reply  was 


14  THE  FAIR  GOD 

allowed  to  pass.     The  'tzin  waited  until  the  delay  excited 
his  wonder. 

"  There  is  a  rumor  of  a  great  battle  with  the  Tlascalan.-," 
he  said  again,  this  time  with  a  direct  question.  "  Has  my 
friend  heard  of  it  1 " 

"The  winds  that  carry  rumors  seldom  come  to  me," 
answered  IztliT. 

"  Couriers  from  Tlascala  pass  directly  through  your  capi 
tal— " 

The  Tezcucan  laid  his  hand  on  the  speaker's  shoulder. 

"  My  capital ! "  he  said.  "  Do  you  speak  of  the  city  of 
Tezcucot" 

The  'tzin  dashed  the  hand  away,  and  arose,  saying,  "  Your 
meaning  is  dark  in  this  dimness  of  stars." 

"  Be  seated,"  said  the  other. 

"  If  I  sit,  is  it  as  friend  or  foe  ?  " 

"  Hear  me  ;  then  be  yourself  the  judge." 

The  Aztec  folded  his  cloak  about  him  and  resumed  hi- 
neat,  very  watchful 

"  Montezuma,  the  king  —  " 

"  Beware !  The  great  king  is  my  kinsman,  and  I  am  his 
faithful  subject." 

The  Tezcucan  continued.  "  In  the  valley  the  kinu  is  wxt 
to  the  gods ;  yet  to  his  nephew  I  say  I  hate  him,  and  will 
teach  him  that  my  hate  is  no  idleness,  like  a  passing  love. 
Tzin,  a  hundred  years  ago  our  races  were  distinct  an<l  iinlt- 
pendent.  The  birds  of  the  woods,  the  winds  of  the  prairie, 
were  not  more  free  than  the  people  of  Tezcuco.  We  liad  our 
capital,  our  temples,  our  worship,  and  our  gods ;  we  < 
brated  our  own  festivals,  our  kings  commanded  their  own 
armies,  our  priesthood  prescribed  their  own  sacrifices.  lint 
where  now  are  king,  country,  and  gods  1  Alas !  you  have 
seen  the  children  of  'Hualpilli,  of  the  blood  of  the  Ac«>lhuan. 
suppliants  of  Montezuma,  the  Aztec."  And,  as  if  overcome 


A   CHALLENGE.  15 


by  the  recollection,  he  burst  into  apostrophe.  "  I  mourn 
thee,  0  Tezcuco,  garden  of  my  childhood,  palace  of  my 
fathers,  inheritance  of  my  right !  Against  me  are  thy  gates 
closed.  The  stars  may  come,  and  as  of  old  garland  thy  tow 
ers  with  t?ieir  rays ;  but  in  thy  echoing  halls  and  princely 
courts  never,  never  shall  I  be  known  again  ! " 

The  silence  that  ensued,  the  'tzin  was  the  first  to  break. 

"  You  would  have  me  understand,"  he  said,  "  that  the  king 
has  done  you  wrong.  Be  it  so.  But,  for  such  cause,  why 
quarrel  with  me  1 " 

"  Ah,  yes  !  "  answered  the  Tezcucan,  in  an  altered  voice. 
"  Come  closer,  that  the  slaves  may  not  hear." 

The  Aztec  kept  his  attitude  of  dignity.  Yet  lower  IztliT 
dropped  his  voice. 

"  The  king  has  a  daughter  whom  he  calls  Tula,  and  loves 
as  the  light  of  his  palace." 

The  'tzin  started,  but  held  his  peace. 

"  You  know  her  ? "  continued  the  Tezcucan. 

"  Name  her  not !  "  said  Guatamozin,  passionately. 

"Why  not"?  I  love  her,  and  but  for  you,  0  'tzin,  she 
would  have  loved  me.  You,  too,  have  done  me  wrong." 

With  thoughts  dark  as  the  waters  he  rode,  the  Aztec 
looked  long  at  the  light  of  fire  painted  on  the  sky  above  the 
distant  city. 

"  Is  Guatamozin  turned  woman  1 "  asked  Iztlil',  tauntingly. 

"  Tula  is  my  cousin.  We  have  lived  the  lives  of  brother 
and  sister.  In  hall,  in  garden,  on  the  lake,  always  together, 
I  could  not  help  loving  her." 

"  You  mistake  me,"  said  the  other.  "  I  seek  her  for  wife, 
but  you  seek  her  for  ambition ;  in  her  eyes  you  see  only  her 
father's  throne." 

Then  the  Aztec's  manner  changed,  and  he  assumed  the 
mastery. 

"  Enough,  Tezcucan  !     I  listened  calmly  while  you  reviled 


16  THE   FAIR   GOD. 

the  king,  and  now  I  have  somewhat  to  say.  In  your  youth 
the  wise  men  prophesied  evil  from  you  ;  they  said  you  were 
ingrate  and  blasphemer  then  :  your  whole  life  has  but  veri 
fied  their  judgment.  Well  for  your  royal  father  and  his 
beautiful  city  had  he  cut  you  off  as  they  counselled  him 
to  do.  Treason  to  the  king,  —  deiiance  to  me  !  By  the  holy 
Sun,  for  each  offence  you  should  answer  me  shield  to  shield  ! 
But  I  recollect  that  I  am  neither  priest  to  slay  a  victim  nor 
officer  to  execute  the  law.  I  mourn  a  feud,  still  more  the 
blood  of  countrymen  shed  by  my  hand;  yet  the  wrongs 
shall  not  go  unavenged  or  Avithout  challenge.  To-morrow  is 
the  sacrifice  to  Quetzal'.  There  will  be  combat  with,  the  best 
captives  in  the  temples  ;  the  arena  will  be  in  the  tianguez  ; 
Tenochtitlan,  and  all  the  valley,  and  all  the  nobility  of  the 
Empire,  will  look  on.  Dare  you  prove  your  kingly  blood1? 
I  challenge  the  son  of  'Hualpilli  to  share  the  danger  with 
me." 

The  cacique  was  silent,  and  the  'tzin  did  not  disturb  him. 
At  his  order,  however,  the  slaves  bent  their  dusky  forms, 
and  the  vessels  sped  on,  like  wingless  birds. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

TENOCHTITLAN     AT    NIGHT. 

THE  site  of  the  city  of  Tenochtitlan  was  chosen  by  the 
gods.  In  the  southwestern  border  of  Lake  Te/cuco,  one 
morning  in  1300,  a  wandering  tribe  of  Aztecs  saw  an  eagle 
perched,  with  outspread  wings,  upon  a  cactus,  and  holding  a 
serpent  in  its  talons.  At  a  word  from  their  priests,  they  took 
possession  of  the  marsh,  and  there  stayed  their  migration 
and  founded  the  city  :  such  is  the  tradition.  As  men  love 


TENOCHTITLAN  AT   NIGHT. 


to  trace  their  descent  back  to  some  storied  greatness,  nations 
delight  to  associate  the  gods  with  their  origin. 

Originally  the  Aztecs  were  barbarous.  In  their  southern 
march,  they  brought  with  them  only  their  arms  and  a  spirit 
of  sovereignty.  The  valley  of  Anahuac,  when  they  reached 
it,  was  already  peopled  ;  in  fact,  had  been  so  for  ages.  The 
cultivation  and  progress  they  found  arid  conquered  there  re 
acted  upon  them.  They  grew  apace  ;  and  as  they  carried 
their  shields  into  neighboring  territory,  as  by  intercourse 
and  commerce  they  crept  from  out  their  shell  of  barbarism, 
as  they  strengthened  in  opulence  and  dominion,  they  repu 
diated  the  reeds  and  rushes  of  which  their  primal  houses  were 
built,  and  erected  enduring  temples  and  residences  of  Oriental 
splendor. 

Under  the  smiles  of  the  gods,  Avhom  countless  victims  kept 
propitiated,  the  city  threw  abroad  its  arms,  and,  before  the 
passage  of  a  century,  became  the  emporium  of  the  valley.  Its 
people  climbed  the  mountains  around,  and,  in  pursuit  of  cap 
tives  to  grace  their  festivals,  made  the  conquest  of  "  Mexico." 
Then  the  kings  began  to  centralize.  They  made  Tenochtit- 
lan  their  capital ;  under  their  encouragement,  the  arts  grew 
and  flourished ;  its  market  became  famous ;  the  nobles  and 
privileged  orders  made  it  their  dwelling-place;  wealth  abound 
ed  ;  as  a  consequence,  a  vast  population  speedily  filled  its 
walls  and  extended  them  as  required.  At  the  coming  of  the 
*  conquistadores,"  it  contained  sixty  thousand  houses  and 
three  hundred  thousand  souls.  Its  plat  testifies  to  a  high 
degree  of  order  and  regularity,  with  all  the  streets  running 
north  and  south,  and  intersected  by  canals,  so  as  to  leave 
quadrilateral  blocks.  An  ancient  map,  exhibiting  the  city 
proper,  presents  the  face  of  a  checker-board,  each  square, 
except  those  of  some  of  the  temples  and  palaces,  being  meted 
with  mathematical  certainty. 

Such  was  the  city  the  'tzin  and  the  cacique  were  approach- 


18  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


ing.  Left  of  them,  half  a  league  distant,  lay  the  towers  and 
embattled  gate  of  Xoloc.  On  the  horizon  behind  paled 
the  fires  of  Iztapalapan,  while  those  of  Tenochtitlan  at  each 
moment  threw  brighter  hues  into  the  sky,  and  more  richly 
empurpled  the  face  of  the  lake.  In  mid  air,  high  over  all 
others,  like  a  great  torch,  blazed  the  pyre  of  Huit/il'.  *  Out 
on  the  sea,  the  course  of  the  voyageurs  was  occasionally  ob 
structed  by  chinampas  at  anchor,  or  afloat  before  the  light 
wind  ;  nearer  the  walls,  the  floating  gardens  multiplied  until 
the  passage  was  as  if  through  an  archipelago  in  miniature. 
From  many  of  them  poured  the  light  of  torches ;  others  gave 
to  the  grateful  sense  the  melody  of  flutes  and  blended  voices ; 
while  over  them  the  radiance  from  the  temples  fell  softly,  re 
vealing  white  pavilions,  orange-trees,  flowering  shrubs,  and 
nameless  varieties  of  the  unrivalled  tropical  vegetation.  A 
breeze,  strong  enough  to  gently  ripple  the  lake,  hovered 
around  the  undulating  retreats,  scattering  a  largesse  of  per 
fume,  and  so  ministering  to  the  voluptuous  floramour  of  the 
locality. 

As  the  voyageurs  proceeded,  the  city,  rising  to  view,  un 
derwent  a  number  of  transformations.  At  first,  amidst  the 
light  of  its  own  fires,f  it  looked  like  a  black  sea-shore  ;  di 
rectly  its  towers  and  turrets  became  visible,  some  looming 
vaguely  and  dark,  others  glowing  and  purpled,  the  whole  mag 
nified  by  the  dim  duplication  below ;  then  it  seemed  like  a 
cloud,  one  half  kindled  by  the  sun,  the  other  obscured  by 
the  night.  As  they  swept  yet  nearer,  it  changed  to  the 
likeness  of  a  long,  ill-defined  wall,  over  which  crept  a  hum 
wing-like  and  strange,  —  the  hum  of  myriad  life. 

*  The  God  of  War,  • —  aptly  called  the  "  Mexican  Mars." 
t  There  was  a  fire  for  each  altar  in  the  temples  which  was  inextinguish- 
able  ;  and  so  numerous  were  the  altars,  and  so  brilliant  their  fires,  that  they 
kept  the  city  illuminated  throughout  the  darkest  nights.     Prescott,  COIHJ. 
of  Mexico,  Vol.  I.,  p  72. 


TENOCHT1TLAN  AT   NIGHT.  19 

Iii  silence  still  they  hurried  forward.  Vessels  like  their 
own,  but  with  lanterns  of  stained  aguave  at  the  prows,  seek 
ing  some  favorite  chinampa,  sped  by  with  benisons  from  the 
crews.  At  length  they  reached  the  Avail,  and,  passing  through 
an  interval  that  formed  the  outlet  of  a  canal,  entered  the 
city.  Instantly  the  water  became  wavcless  ;  houses  encom 
passed  them ;  lights  gleamed  across  their  way ;  the  hum  t',iat 
hovered  over  them  while  out  on  the  lake  realized  itself  in  the 
voices  of  men  and  the  notes  of  labor. 

Yet  farther  into  the  city,  the  light  from  the  temples  in 
creased.  From  towers,  turreted  like  a  Moresco  castle,  they 
heard  the  night-watchers  proclaiming  the  hour.  Canoes, 
in  flocks,  darted  by  them,  decked  with  garlands,  and  laden 
with  the  wealth  of  a  merchant,  or  the  trade  of  a  market-man, 
or  full  of  revellers  singing  choruses  to  the  stars  or  to  the  fair 
denizens  of  the  palaces.  Here  and  there  the  canal  was  bor 
dered  with  sidewalks  of  masonry,  and  sometimes  with 
steps  leading  from  the  water  up  to  a  portal,  about  which 
were  companies  Avhose  flaunting,  parti-colored  costumes,  bril 
liant  in  the  mellowed  light,  had  all  the  appearance  of  Vene 
tian  masqueraders. 

At  last  the  canoes  gained  the  great  street  that  continued 
from  the  causeway  at  the  south  through  the  whole  city ;  then 
the  Tezcucan  touched  the  'tzin,  and  said,  — 

"  The  son  of  'Hualpilli  accepts  the  challenge,  Aztec.  In 
the  tianguez  to-morrow." 

Without  further  speech,  the  foemen  leaped  on  the  landing, 
and  separated. 


20  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


CHAPTEE    V. 

THE   CHILD   OF   THE   TEMPLE. 

THERE  Avere  two  royal  palaces  in  the  city ;  one  built  by 
Axaya',  the  other  by  Montezuma,  the  reigning  king, 
who  naturally  preferred  his  own  structure,  and  so  resided 
there.  It  was  a  low,  irregular  pile,  embracing  not  only  the 
king's  abode  proper,  but  also  quarters  for  his  guard,  and  edi- 
iices  for  an  armory,  an  aviary,  and  a  menagerie.  Attached 
to  it  was  a  garden,  adorned  with  the  choicest  shrubbery  and 
plants,  with  fruit  and  forest  trees,  with  walks  strewn  with 
shells,  and  fountains  of  pure  water  conducted  from  the  reser 
voir  of  Chapultepec. 

At  night,  except  when  the  moon  shone,  the  garden  was 
lighted  with  lamps  ;  and,  whether  in  day  or  night,  it  Avas  a 
favorite  lounging-place.  During  fair  evenings,  particularly, 
its  Avalks,  of  the  whiteness  of  snow,  were  thronged  by  nobles 
and  courtiers. 

Shortly  after  the  arrival  of  Iztlil'  and  Guatamozin,  a  party, 
mostly  of  the  sons  of  provincial  governors  kept  at  the  palace 
as  hostages,  were  gathered  in  the  garden,  under  a  canopy 
used  to  shield  a  fountain  from  the  noonday  sun.  The  place 
Avas  fairly  lighted,  the  air  fresh  Avith  the  breath  of  flowers, 
and  delightful  with  the  sound  of  falling  water. 

Maxtla,  chief  of  the  guard,  Avas  there,  his  juvenility  Avell 
hidden  under  an  ostentatious  display.  That  he  was  "  a  very 
common  soldier  "  in  the  opinion  of  the  people  was  of  small 
moment :  he  had  the  king's  ear ;  and  that,  without  wit  and 
courtierly  tact,  would  have  made  him  Avhat  he  was,  —  the 
oracle  of  the  party  around  him. 

In  the  midst  of  his  gossip,  Iztlil',  the  Tezcucan,  came  sud- 


THE  CHILD  OF  THE  TEMPLE.  21 

denly  to  the  fountain.  He  coldly  surveyed  the  assembly. 
Maxtla  alone  saluted  him. 

"  Will  the  prince  of  Tezcuco  be  seated  1 "  said  the  chief. 

"  The  place  is  pleasant,  and  the  company  looks  inviting," 
returned  Iztlil',  grimly. 

Since  his  affair  with  Guatamozin,  he  had  donned  the 
uniform  of  an  Aztec  chieftain.  Over  his  shoulders  was  care 
lessly  flung  a  crimson  tilmatli,  —  a  short,  square  cloak,  fan 
tastically  embroidered  with  gold,  and  so  sprinkled  with 
jewels  as  to  flash  at  every  movement ;  his  body  was  Avrapped 
closely  in  an  escaupil,  or  tunic,  of  cotton  lightly  quilted, 
over  which,  and  around  his  waist,  was  a  maxtlatl,  or  sash, 
inseparable  from  the  warrior.  A  casque  of  silver,  thin, 
burnished,  and  topped  with  plumes,  surmounted  his  head. 
His  features  were  gracefully  moulded,  and  he  would  have 
been  handsome  but  that  his  complexion  was  deepened  by 
black,  frowning  eyebrows.  He  was  excessively  arrogant ; 
though  sometimes,  when  deeply  stirred  by  passion,  his 
manner  rose  into  tie  royal.  His  character  I  leave  to 
history. 

"  I  have  just  come  from  Iztapalapan,"  he  said,  as  he  sat 
upon  the  proffered  stool.  •'  The  lake  is  calm,  the  way  was 
very  pleasant,  I  had  the  'tzin  Guatamo'  for  comrade." 

"  You  were  fortunate.  The  izin  is  good  company,"  said 
Maxtla. 

Iztlil'  frowned,  and  became  silent. 

"To-morrow,"  continued  the  courtier,  upon  whom  the 
iiscontent,  slight  as  it  was,  had  not  been  lost,  "  is  the  sacri 
fice  to  Quetzal'.  I  am  reminded,  gracious  prince,  that,  at  a 
recent  celebration,  you  put  up  a  thousand  cocoa,*  to  be  for 
feited  if  you  failed  to  see  the  daughter  of  Mualox,  the  paba. 

*  The  Aztec  currency  consisted  of  bits  of  tin,  in  shape  like  a  capital 
T,  of  quills  of  gold-dust,  and  of  bags  of  cocoa,  containing  a  stated  num 
ber  of  grains.  Sahagun,  Hist,  de  Nueva  Esp. 


22  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

If  not  improper,  how  runs  the  wager,  and  what  of  the 
result  ? " 

The  cacique  shrugged  his  broad  shoulders. 

"  The  man  trembles  ! "  whispered  one  of  the  party. 

"  Well  he  may  !      Old  Mualox  is  more  than  a  man.  " 

Maxtla  bowed  and  laughed.  "  Mualox  is  a  magician  ;  the 
stars  deal  with  him.  And  my  brother  will  not  speak,  lest  he 
may  cover  the  sky  of  his  fortune  with  clouds." 

"  No,"  said  the  Tezcucan,  proudly  ;  "  the  wager  was  not  a 
sacrilege  to  the  paba  or  his  god ;  if  it  was,  the  god,  not  the 
man,  should  be  a  warrior's  fear." 

"  Does  Maxtla  believe  Mualox  a  prophet  1 "  asked  Tlahua, 
a  noble  Otompan. 

"  The  gods  have  power  in  the  sun  ;  why  not  on  earth  1 " 

"  You  do  not  like  the  paba,"  observed  Iztlil',  gloomily. 

"  Who  has  seen  him,  0  prince,  and  thought  of  love  1 
And  the  walls  and  towers  of  his  dusty  temple,  —  are  they 
not  hung  with  dread,  as  the  sky  on  a  dark  day  with  clouds  1 " 

The  party,  however  they  might  dislike  the  cacique,  could 
not  listen  coldly  to  this  conversation.  They  were  mostly  of 
that  mystic  race  of  Azatlan,  who,  ages  before,  had  descended 
into  the  valley,  like  an  inundation,  from  the  north ;  the 
race  whose  religion  was  founded  upon  credulity ;  the  race 
full  of  chivalry,  but  horribly  governed  by  a  crafty  priesthood. 
None  of  them  disbelieved  in  star-dealing.  So  every  eye 
fixed  on  the  Tezcucan,  every  ear  drank  the  musical  syllables  of 
Maxtla.  They  were  startled  when  the  former  said  abruptly, — 

"  Comrades,  the  wrath  of  the  old  paba  is  not  to  be  lightly 
provoked ;  he  has  gifts  not  of  men.  But,  as  there  is  nothing 
I  do  not  dare,  I  will  tell  the  story." 

The  company  now  gathered  close  around  the  speaker. 

"  Probably  you  have  all  heard,"  he  began,  "  that  Mualox 
keeps  in  his  temple  somewhere  a  child  or  woman  too  beau 
tiful  to  be  mortal.  The  story  may  be  true  ;  yet  it  is  only  a 


THE  CHILD   OF  THE  TEMPLE.  23 

belief;  no  eye  has  seen  footprint  or  shadow  of  her.  A  cer 
tain  lord  in  the  palace,  who  goes  thrice  a  week  to  the  shrine 
of  Quetzal',  has  faith  in  the  gossip  and  the  paha.  He  says 
the  mystery  is  Quetzal'  himself,  already  returned,  and  wait 
ing,  concealed  in  the  temple,  the  ripening  of  the  time  when 
he  is  to  hurst  in  vengeance  on  Tenochtitlan.  I  heard  him 
talking  about  it  one  day,  and  wagered  him  a  thousand  cocoa 
that,  if  there  was  such  a  being  I  would  see  her  before  the 
next  sacrifice  to  Quetzal'." 

The  Tezcucan  hesitated. 

"  Is  the  believer  to  boast  himself  wealthier  by  the  wager?" 
said  Maxtla,  profoundly  interested.  "  A  thousand  cocoa 
would  buy  a  jewel  or  a  slave :  surely,  0  prince,  surely 
they  were  worth  the  winning  !  " 

Iztlil'  frowned  again,  and  said  bitterly,  "  A  thousand  cocoa 
I  cannot  well  spare  ;  they  do  not  grow  on  my  hard  northern 
hills  like  flowers  in  Xochimilco.  I  did  my  best  to  save  the 
wager.  Old  habit  lures  me  to  the  great  teocallis  ;  *  for  I 
am  of  those  who  believe  that  a  warrior's  worship  is  meet  for 
no  god  but  HuitziT.  But,  as  the  girl  was  supposed  to  be 
down  in  the  cells  of  the  old  temple,  and  none  but  Mualox 
could  satisfy  me,  I  began  going  there,  thinking  to  bargain 
humilities  for  favor.  I  played  my  part  studiously,  if  not 
well ;  but  no  offering  of  tongue  or  gold  ever  won  me  word 
of  friendship  or  smile  of  confidence.  Hopeless  and  Aveary,  I 
at  last  gave  up,  and  went  back  to  the  teocallis.  But  now 
hear  my  parting  with  the  paba.  A  short  time  ago  a  mystery 
was  enacted  in  the  temple.  At  the  end,  I  turned  to  go 
away,  determined  that  it  should  be  my  last  visit.  At  the 
eastern  steps,  as  I  was  about  descending,  I  felt  a  hand 
laid  on  my  arm.  It  was  Mualox;  and  not  more  terrible 
looks  Tlalac  Avhen  he  has  sacrificed  a  thousand  victims. 

*  Temple.      The  term  appears  to  have  applied    particularly  to  th» 
temples  of  the  god  HuitziT.  —  TR. 


24  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


There  was  no  blood  on  his  hands  ;  his  beard  and  surplice 
were  white  and  stainless ;  the  terror  was  in  his  eyes,  that 
seemed  to  burn  and  shoot  lightning.  You  know,  good  chief, 
that  I  could  have  crushed  him  with  a  blow  ;  yet  I  trembled. 
Looking  back  now,  I  cannot  explain  the  awe  that  seized 
me.  I  remember  how  my  will  deserted  me,  —  how  another's 
came  in  its  stead.  With  a  glance  he  bound  me  hand  and 
foot.  While  I  looked  at  him,  he  dilated,  until  I  was  covered 
by  his  shadow.  He  magnified  himself  into  the  stature  of 
a  god.  '  Prince  of  Tezcuco,'  he  said,  '  son  of  the  wise 
'Hualpilli,  from  the  sun  Quetzal'  looks  down  on  the  earth. 
Alike  over  land  and  sea  he  looks.  Before  him  space  melts 
into  a  span,  and  darkness  puts  on  the  glow  of  day.  Did 
you  think  to  deceive  my  god,  0  prince  1 '  I  could  not 
answer  ;  my  tongue  was  like  stone.  '  Go  hence,  go  hence ! ' 
he  cried,  waving  his  hand.  '  Your  presence  darkens  his 
mood.  His  wrath  is  on  your  soul;  ho  has  cursed  you. 
Hence,  abandoned  of  the  gods ! '  So  saying,  he  went 
back  to  the  tower  again,  and  my  will  returned,  and  I  fled. 
And  now,"  said  the  cacique,  turning  suddenly  and  sternly 
upon  his  hearers,  "who  will  deny  the  magic  of  Mualoxl 
How  may  I  be  assured  that  his  curse  that  day  spoken  was 
not  indeed  a  curse  from  Quetzal'  1 " 

There  was  neither  word  nor  laugh,  —  not  even  a  smile. 
The  gay  Maxtla  appeared  infected  with  a  sombreness  of 
spirit ;  and  it  was  not  long  until  the  party  broke  up,  and 
went  each  his  way 


THE  cO  OF  QUETZAL',  AND  MUALOX,  THE  PABA.    25 


CHAPTEE  VL 
THE  cu  OF  QUETZAL',  AND  MUALOX,  THE  PABA. 

OVER  the  city  from  temple  to  temple  passed  the  wail  of 
the  watchers,  and  a  quarter  of  the  night  was  gone. 
Few  heard  the  cry  without  pleasure ;  for  to-morrow  was 
Quetzal's  day,  which  would  bring  feasting,  music,  combat, 
crowd,  and  flowers. 

Among  others  the  proclamation  of  the  passing  time  was 
made  from  a  temple  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Tlateloco 
tianguez,  or  market-place,  which  had  been  built  by  one  of  the 
first  kings  of  Tenochtitlan,  and,  like  all  edifices  of  that  date 
properly  called  Ciis,  was  of  but  one  story,  and  had  but  one 
tower.  At  the  south  its  base  was  washed  by  a  canal ;  on  all 
the  other  sides  it  was  enclosed  by  stone  walls  high,  probably, 
as  a  man's  head.  The  three  sides  so  walled  were  bounded 
by  streets,  and  faced  by  houses,  some  of  which  were  higher 
than  the  Cil  itself,  and  adorned  with  beautiful  porticos. 
The  canal  on  the  south  ran  parallel  with  the  Tlacopan  cause 
way,  and  intersected  the  Iztapalapan  street  at  a  point  nearly 
half  a  mile  above  the  great  pyramid. 

The  antique  pile  thus  formed  a  square  of  vast  extent.  Ac 
cording  to  the  belief  that  there  were  blessings  in  the  orient 
rays  of  the  sun,  the  front  was  to  the  east,  where  a  flight  of 
steps,  wide  as  the  whole  building,  led  from  the  ground  to  the 
azoteas,  a  paved  area  constituting  the  roof,  crowned  in  the 
centre  by  a  round  tower  of  wood  most  quaintly  carved  with 
religious  symbols.  Entering  the  door  of  the  tower,  the  dev 
otee  might  at  once  kneel  before  the  sacred  image  of  Quetzal'. 

A  circuitous  stairway  outside  the  tower  conducted  to  its 
summit,  where  blazed  the  fire.  Another  flight  of  steps  about 
2 


26  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


midway  the  tower  and  the  western  verge  of  the  azotcas  de 
scended  into  a  court-yard,  around  which,  in  the  shade  of  a 
colonnade,  were  doors  and  windows  of  habitable  apartments 
and  passages  leading  far  into  the  interior.  And  there, 
shrouded  in  a  perpetual  twilight  and  darkness,  once  slept, 
ate,  prayed,  and  studied  or  dreamed  the  members  of  a  frater 
nity  powerful  as  the  Templars  and  gloomy  as  the  Fratre? 
Minores. 

The  interior  was  cut  into  rooms,  and  long,  winding  halls, 
and  countless  cellular  dens. 

Such  was  the  Cu  of  Quetzal',  —  stern,  sombre,  and  massive 
as  in  its  first  days ;  unchanged  in  all  save  the  prosperity 
of  its  priesthood  and  the  popularity  of  its  shrine.  Time  was 
when  every  cell  contained  its  votaries,  and  kings,  returning 
from  battle,  bowed  before  the  altar.  But  Montezuma  had 
built  a  new  edifice,  and  set  up  there  a  new  idol ;  and  as  if  a 
king  could  better  make  a  god  than  custom,  the  people  aban 
doned  the  old  ones  to  desuetude.  Up  in  the  ancient  cupola, 
however,  sat  the  image  said  to  have  been  carved  by  Quetzal's 
own  hand.  Still  the  fair  face  looked  out  benignly  on  its  realm 
of  air ;  carelessly  the  winds  waved  "  the  plumes  of  fire  "  that 
decked  its  awful  head ;  and  one  stony  hand  yet  grasped  a 
golden  sceptre,  while  the  other  held  aloft  the  painted  shield, 
—  symbols  of  its  dominion.*  But  the  servitors  and  surpliced 
mystics  were  gone  ;  the  cells  were  very  solitudes  ;  the  last 
paba  lingered  to  protect  the  image  and  its  mansion,  all  un 
witting  how,^  his  faithfulness  of  love,  he  himself  had  as 
sumed  the  highest  prerogative  of  a  god. 

The  fire  from  the  urn  on  the  tower  flashed  a  red  glow  down 
over  the  azoteas,  near  a  corner  of  which  Mualox  stood,  his 
beard  white  and  flowing  as  his  surplice.  Thought  of  days 
palmier  for  himself  and  more  glorious  for  his  temple  and  god 
struggled  to  his  lips. 

"Children  of  Azatlan,  ye  have  strayed  from  his 
*  Sahaguii,  Hist,  de  Nueva  Esr>, 


THE  CO   OF   QUETZAL',   AND   MUALOX,   THE  PABA.      27 

and  dust  is  on  his  shield.  The  temple  is  of  his  handiwork, 
but  its  chambei's  are  voiceless  ;  the  morning  comes  and  falls 
asleep  on  its  steps,  and  no  foot  disturbs  it,  no  one  seeks  its 
blessings.  Where  is  the  hymn  of  the  choir  1  Where  the 
prayer  ?  Where  the  holiness  that  rested,  like  a  spell,  around 
the  altar  1  Is  the  valley  fruitless,  and  are  the  gardens  with 
out  flowers,  that  he  should  be  without  offering  or  sacrifice  1 
....  Ah  !  well  ye  know  that  the  day  is  not  distant  when 
lie  will  glister  again  in  the  valley ;  when  he  will  come,  not 
as  of  old  he  departed,  the  full  harvest  quick  ripening  in  his 
footsteps,  but  with  the  power  of  Mictlan,*  the  owl  on  his 
skirt,  and  death  in  his  hand,  lieturn,  0  children,  and  Tenoch- 
titlan  may  yet  live  ! " 

In  the  midst  of  his  pleadings  there  was  a  clang  of  san 
dalled  feet  on  the  pavement,  and  two  men  came  near  him, 
and  stopped.  One  of  them  wore  the  hood  and  long  black 
gown  of  a  priest ;  the  other  the  full  military  garb,  —  bur 
nished  casque  crested  Avith  plumes,  a  fur-trimmed  tilmatli, 
escanpil,  and  maxtlatl,  and  sandals  the  thongs  of  which  were 
embossed  with  silver.  He  also  carried  a  javelin,  and  a 
shield  with  an  owl  painted  on  its  face.  Indeed,  one  will 
travel  far  before  finding,  among  Christians  or  unbelievers, 
liis  peer.  He  was  then  not  more  than  twenty-five  years  old, 
tall  and  nobly  proportioned,  and  with  a  bearing  truly  royal. 
In  Spain  I  have  seen  eyes  as  large  and  lustrous,  but  none  of 
snch  power  and  variety  of  expression.  His  complexion  was 
merely  the  brown  of  the  sun.  Though  very  masculine,  his 
features,  especially  when  the  spirit  was  in  repose,  were  soft 
ened  by  an  expression  unusually  gentle  and  attractive. 
Such  was  the  'tzin  Guatamo',  or,  as  he  is  more  commonly 
known  in  history,  Guatamozin,  —  the  highest,  noblest  type 
of  his  race,  blending  in  one  its  genius  and  heroism,  with 
but  few  of  its  debasements. 

*  The  Mexican  Hell.  The  owl  was  the  symbol  of  the  Devil,  whose  name 
signifies  "the  rational  owl," 


28  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

"  Mualox,"  said  the  priestly  stranger. 

The  paba  turned,  and  knelt,  and  kissed  the  pavement. 

"  O  king,  pardon  your  slave !  He  was  dreaming  of  his 
country." 

"  No  slave  of  mine,  but  Quetzal's.  Up,  Mualox  ! "  said 
Montezuma,  throwing  back  the  hood  that  covered  his  head. 
4  Holy  should  be  the  dust  that  mingles  in  your  beard  !  " 

And  the  light  from  the  tower  shone  full  on  the  face  of 
wim,  —  the  priest  of  lore  profound,  and  monarch  wise  of 
thought,  for  whom  Heaven  was  preparing  a  destiny  most 
memorable  among  the  melancholy  episodes  of  history. 

A  slight  mustache  shaded  his  upper  lip,  and  thin,  dark 
beard  covered  his  chin  and  throat ;  his  nose  was  straight ; 
his  brows  curved  archly ;  his  forehead  was  broad  and  full, 
while  he  seemed  possessed  of  height  and  strength.  His 
neck  was  round,  muscular,  and  encircled  by  a  collar  01 
golden  wires.  His  manner  was  winsome,  and  he  spoke  to 
the  kneeling  man  in  a  voice  clear,  distinct,  and  sufficiently 
emphatic  for  the  king  he  was.* 

Mualox  arose,  and  stood  with  downcast  eyes,  and  hands 
crossed  over  his  breast. 

"  Many  a  coming  of  stars  it  has  been,"  he  said,  "  since 
the  old  shrine  has  known  the  favor  of  gift  from  Montezuma. 
Gloom  of  clouds  in  a  vale  of  firs  is  not  darker  than  the 
mood  of  Quetzal' ;  but  to  the  poor  paba,  your  voice,  O 
king,  is  welcome  as  the  song  of  the  river  in  the  ear  of  the 
thirsty." 

The  king  looked  up  at  the  fire  on  the  tower. 

"  Why  should  the  mood  of  Quetzal'  be  dark  1  A  new 
teocattis  holds  his  image.  His  priests  are  proud ;  and  they  say 
ho  is  happy,  and  that  when  he  comes  from  the  golden  land 
his  canoe  wil  be  full  of  blessings." 

Sernal  Diaz,  Hist,  de  la  Conquista. 


THE  CU  OF   QUETZAL',   AND   MUALOX,  THE  PABA.      29 


Mualox  sighed,  and  when  he  ventured  to  raise  his  eyes 
to  the  king's,  they  were  wet  with  tears. 

"  0  king,  have  you  forgotten  that  chapter  of  the  teoamox- 
tli*  in  which  is  written  how  this  Cu  was  built,  and  its 
first  fires  lighted,  by  Quetzal'  himself1}  The  new  pyramid 
may  be  grand ;  its  towers  may  be  numberless,  and  its  fires 
far  reaching  as  the  sun  itself:  but  hope  not  that  will  satisfy 
the  god,  while  his  own  house  is  desolate.  In  the  name  of 
Quetzal',  I,  his  true  servant,  tell  you,  never  again  look  for 
smile  from  Tlapallan." 

The  paba's  speech  was  bold,  and  the  king  frowned ;  but 
in  the  eyes  of  the  venerable  man  there  was  the  unaccount 
able  fascination  mentioned  by  Iztlil'. 

"  I  remember  the  Mualox  of  my  father's  day ;  surely  he 
was  not  as  you  are  ! "  Then,  laying  his  hand  on  the  'tzin's 
arm,  the  monarch  added,  "  Did  you  not  say  the  holy  man 
had  something  to  tell  me  ^ " 

Mualox  answered,  "  Even  so,  0  king !  Few  are  the 
friends  left  the  paba,  now  that  his  religion  and  god  are 
mocked ;  but  the  'tzin  is  faithful.  At  my  bidding  he  went 
to  the  palace.  Will  Montezuma  go  with  his  servant  1 " 

"Where?" 

"  Only  into  the  Cu." 

The  monarch  faltered. 

"  Dread  be  from  you  !  "  said  Mualox.  "  Think  you  it  is 
as  hard  to  be  faithful  to  a  king  as  to  a  god  whom  even  he 
has  abandoned  1 " 

Montezuma  was  touched.  "  Let  us  go,"  he  said  to  tho 
'tzin 

•  The  Divine  Book,  or  Bible.     Ixtlil's  Relaciones  M.  S. 


30  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE   PROPHECY   ON    THE   WALL. 

MUALOX  led  them  into  the  tower.  The  light  of  pur 
pled  lamps  filled  the  sacred  place,  and  played  softly 
around  the  idol,  before  which  they  bowed.  Then  he  took  a 
light  from  the  altar,  and  conducted  them  to  the  azoteas,  and 
down  into  the  court-yard,  from  whence  they  entered  a  hall 
leading  on  into  the  Cu. 

The  way  was  labyrinthine,  and  both  the  king  and  the 
'tzin  became  bewildered  ;  they  only  kneAV  that  they  de 
scended  several  stairways,  and  walked  a  considerable  dis 
tance  ;  nevertheless,  they  submitted  themselves  entirely  to 
their  guide,  who  went  forward  without  hesitancy.  At  last 
he  stopped ;  and,  by  the  light  which  he  held  up  for  the  pur 
pose,  they  saw  in  a  wall  an  aperture  roughly  excavated,  am! 
large  enough  to  admit  them  singly. 

"  You  have  read  the  Holy  Book,  wise  king,"  said  Mualox. 
"  Can  you  not  recall  its  saying  that,  before  the  founding  of 
Tenochtitlan,  a  Cu  was  begun,  with  chambers  to  lie  under 
the  bed  of  the  lake?  Especially,  do  you  not  remember 
the  declaration  that,  in  some  of  those  chambers,  besides  a 
store  of  wealth  so  vast  as  to  be  beyond  the  calculation  of 
men,  there  were  prophecies  to  be  read,  written  on  the  walls 
by  a  god  1 " 

"  I  remember  it,"  said  the  king. 

"  Give  me  faith,  then,  and  I  will  show  you  all  you  there 
read." 

Thereupon  the  paba  stepped  into  the  aperture,  saying,  — 

"  Mark  !  I  am  now  standing  under  the  eastern  wall  of  the 
old  Cfi." 


THE  PROPHECY  ON   THE  WALL.  31 

He  passed  through,  and  they  followed  him,  and  were 
amazed. 

"  Look  around,  O  king  !  You  are  in  one  of  the  chambers 
mentioned  in  the  Holy  Book." 

The  light  penetrated  but  a  short  distance,  so  that  Mon- 
tezuma  could  form  no  idea  of  the  extent  of  the  apartment. 
He  would  have  thought  it  a  great  natural  cavern  but  for 
the  floor  smoothly  paved  with  alternate  red  and  gray  flags, 
and  some  massive  stone  blocks  rudely  piled  up  in  places  to 
support  the  roof. 

As  they  proceeded,  Mualox  said,  "  On  every  side  of  us 
there  are  rooms  through  which  we  might  go  till,  in  stormy 
weather,  the  waves  of  the  lake  can  be  heard  breaking  over 
head." 

In  a  short  tiro",  they  again  stopped. 

"  We  are  nearly  there.  Son  of  a  king,  is  your  heart 
strong  ]  "  said  Mualox,  solemnly. 

Montezuma  made  no  answer. 

"  Many  a  time,"  continued  the  paba,  "  your  glance  has 
re^ed  on  the  tower  of  the  old  Cu,  then  flashed  to  where,  in 
prouder  state,  your  pyramids  rise.  You  never  thought  the 
gray  pile  you  smiled  at  was  the  humblest  of  all  Quetzal's 
works.  Can  a  man,  though  a  king,  outdo  a  god  ? " 

"  I  never  thought  so,  I  never  thought  so  !  " 

But  the  mystic  did  not  notice  the  deprecation. 

"  See,"  he  said,  speaking  louder,  "  the  pride  of  man  says,  I 
will  build  upward  that  the  sun  may  show  my  power ;  but 
the  gods  are  too  great  for  pride ;  so  the  sun  shines  not  on 
their  especial  glories,  which  as  frequently  lie  in  the  earth 
and  sea  as  in  the  air  and  heavens.  O  mighty  king !  You 
crush  the  worm  under  your  sandal,  never  thinking  that  its 
humble  life  is  more  wonderful  than  all  your  temples  and 
state.  It  was  the  same  folly  that  laughed  at  the  simple  towel 
of  Quetzal',  which  has  mysteries  — -  " 


32  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Mysteries  !  "  said  the  king. 

"  I  will  show  you  wealth  enough  to  restock  the  mines 
and  visited  valleys  with  all  their  plundered  gold  and 
jewels." 

"  You  are  dreaming,  paba." 

"  Come,  then ;  let  us  see  !  " 

They  moved  past  some  columns,  and  came  before  a  great, 
arched  doorway,  through  which  streamed  a  brilliance  like 
day. 

"  Now,  let  your  souls  be  strong  !  " 

They  entered  the  door,  and  for  a  while  were  blinded  by  the 
glare,  and  could  see  only  the  floor  covered  with  grains  of  gold 
large  as  wheat.  Moving  on,  they  came  to  a  great  stone  table, 
and  stopped. 

'"  You  wonder  ;  and  so  did  I,  until  I  was  reminded  that  a 
god  had  been  here.  Look  up,  0  king  !  look  up,  and  see  the 
handiwork  of  Quetzal' !  " 

The  chamber  was  broad  and  square.  The  obstruction  of 
many  pillars,  forming  the  stay  of  the  roof,  was  compensated  by 
their  lightness  and  wonderful  carving.  Lamps,  lit  by  Mua 
lox  in  anticipation  of  the  royal  coming,  blazed  in  all  quarters. 
Tho  ceiling  was  covered  with  lattice-work  of  shining  white 
and  yellow  metals,  the  preciousness  of  which  was  palpable  to 
eyes  accustomed  like  the  monarch's.  Where  the  bars  crossed 
each  other,  there  were  fanciful  representations  .of  flowers, 
wrought  in  gold,  some  of  them  large  as  shields,  and  garnished 
with  jewels  that  burned  with  star-like  fires.  Between  the 
columns,  up  and  down  ran  rows  of  brazen  tables,  bearing 
urns  and  vases  of  the  royal  metals,  higher  than  tall  men,  and 
carved  all  over  with  gods  in  Ins-relief,  not  as  hideous  cari 
catures,  but  beautiful  as  love  and  Grecian  skill  could  make 
them.  Between  the  vases  and  tirns  there  were  heaps  of 
rubies  and  pearls  and  brilliants,  amongst  which  looked  out 
softly  the  familiar,  pale-green  lustre  of  the  chalchuites,  01 


THE  PROPHECY  ON  THE  WALL.  33 

priceless  Aztecan  diamond.*  And  here  and  there,  like 
guardians  of  the  buried  beauty  and  treasure,  statues  looked 
down  from  tall  pedestals,  crowned  and  armed,  as  became  the 
kings  and  demi-gods  of  a  great  and  martial  people.  The 
monarch  was  speechless.  Again  and  again  he  surveyed  the 
golden  chamber.  As  if  seeking  an  explanation,  but  too 
overwhelmed  for  words,  he  turned  to  Mualox. 

"  And  now  does  Montezuma  believe  his  servant  dream 
ing  1 "  said  the  paba.  "  Quetzal'  directed  the  discovery  of 
the  chamber.  I  knew  of  it,  O  king,  before  you  were  born. 
And  here  is  the  wealth  of  which  I  spoke.  If  it  so  confounds 
you,  how  much  more  will  the  other  mystery  !  I  have  dug 
up  a  prophecy  ;  from  darkness  plucked  a  treasure  richer  than 
all  these.  0  king,  I  will  give  you  to  read  a  message  from 
the  gods ! " 

The  monarch's  face  became  bloodless,  and  it  had  now  not 
a  trace  of  scepticism. 

"  I  will  show  you  from  Quetzal'  himself  that  the  end  of 
your  Empire  is  at  hand,  and  that  every  wind  of  the  earth  ia 
full  sown  with  woe  to  you  and  yours.  The  writing  is  on 
the  walls.  Come  !  " 

And  he  led  the  king,  followed  by  Guatamozin,  to  tho 
northern  corner  of  the  eastern  wall,  on  which,  in  square 
marble  panels,  bas-relief  style,  were  hierograms  and  sculp 
tured  pictures  of  men,  executed  apparently  by  the  same 
hand  that  chiselled  the  statues  in  the  room.  The  ground 
of  the  carvings  was  coated  with  coarse  gray  coral,  which 
had  the  effect  to  bring  out  the  white  figures  with  marvel 
lous  perfection. 

"This,  0  king,  is  the  writing,"  said  Mualox,  "which 
begins  here,  and  continues  around  the  walls.  I  will  read, 
if  you  please  to  hear." 

*  A  kind  of  emerald,  used  altogether  by  the  nobility.  Sahagun,  Hist 
de  Nueva  Esp. 

2*  o 


34  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


Montezuma  waved  his  hand,  and  the  paba  proceeded. 

"  This  figure  is  that  of  the  lirst  king  of  Tenochtitlau  ;  the 
others  are  his  followers.  The  letters  record  the  time  of  the 
march  from  the  north.  Observe  that  the  first  of  the  writing 
—  its  commencement  —  is  here  in  the  north." 

After  a  little  while,  they  moved  on  to  the  second  panel. 

"  Here,"  said  Mualox,  "  is  represented  the  march  of  the 
king.  It  was  accompanied  with  battles.  See,  he  stands 
with  lifted  javelin,  his  foot  on  the  breast  of  a  prostrate  foe. 
His  followers  dance  and  sound  shells ;  the  priests  sacrifice  a 
victim.  The  king  has  won  a  great  victory." 

They  stopped  before  the  third  panel. 

"  And  here  the  monarch  is  still  on  the  march.  He  is  in 
the  midst  of  his  warriors  ;  no  doubt  the  crown  he  is  receiving 
is  that  of  the  ruler  of  a  conquered  city." 

This  cartoon  Montezuma  examined  closely.  The  chief,  or 
king,  was  distinguished  by  a  crown  in  all  respects  like  that 
then  in  the  palace  ;  the  priests,  by  their  long  gowns  ;  and  the 
warriors,  by  their  arms,  which,  as  they  were  counterparts 
of  those  still  in  use,  sufficiently  identified  the  wanderers. 
Greatly  was  the  royal  inspector  troubled.  And  as  the  paba 
slowly  conducted  him  from  panel  to  panel,  he  forgot  the 
treasure  with  which  the  chamber  was  stored.  What  he  read 
was  the  story  of  his  race,  the  record  of  their  glory.  The 
whole  eastern  wall,  he  found,  when  he  had  passed  before  it, 
given  to  illustrations  of  the  crusade  from  Axatlan,  tho  father 
land,  northward  so  far  that  corn  .was  gathered  in  the  snow, 
and  liowers  were  the  wonder  of  the  six  weeks'  summer. 

In  front  of  the  lirst  panel  on  the  southern  wall  Mualox 
said,  — 

"All  we  have  passed  is  the  first  era  in  the  history  ;  this  is 
the  beginning  of  the  second  ;  and  the  first  writing  on  the 
western  wall  will  commence  a  third.  Here  the  king  stands 
ou  a  roctlf ;  a  priest  points  him  to  an  eagle  on  a  cactus,  hold- 


THE  PROPHECY  ON  THE  WALL.  35 

ing  a  serpent.  At  last  they  have  reached  the  place  where 
Tenochtitlan  is  to  be  founded." 

The  paba  passed  on. 

"  Here,"  he  said,  "  are  temples  and  palaces.  The  king  re 
clines  on  a  couch  ;  the  city  has  been  founded." 

And  before  another  panel,  —  "  Look  well  to  this,  0  king ! 
A  new  character  is  introduced ;  here  it  is  before  an  altar, 
offering  a  sacrifice  of  fruits  and  flowers.  It  is  Quetzal' !  In 
his  worship,  you  recollect,  there  is  no  slaughter  of  victims. 
My  hands  are  pure  of  blood." 

The  Quetzal',  with  its  pleasant  face,  flowing  curls,  and 
simple  costume,  seemed  to  have  a  charm  for  Montezuma,  for 
he  mused  over  it  a  long  time.  Some  distance  on,  the  figure 
again  appeared,  stepping  into  a  canoe,  while  the  people,  tem 
ples,  and  palaces  of  the  city  were  behind  it.  Mualox  ex 
plained,  "  See,  0  king !  The  fair  god  is  departing  from 
Tenochtitlan ;  he  has  been  banished.  Saddest  of  all  the 
days  was  that !  " 

And  so,  the  holy  man  interpreting,  they  moved  along  the 
southern  wall.  Not  a  scene  but  was  illustrative  of  some  in 
cident  memorable  in  the  Aztecan  history.  And  the  review 
ers  were  struck  with  the  faithfulness  of  the  record  not  less 
than  with  the  beauty  of  the  work. 

On  the  western  wall,  the  first  cartoon  represented  a  young 
man  sweeping  the  steps  of  a  temple.  Montezuma  paused  be 
fore  it  amazed,  and  Guatamozin  for  the  first  time  cried  out, 
"  It  is  the  king  !  It  is  the  king !  "  The  likeness  was  per 
fect. 

After  that  came  a  coronation  scene.  The  teotuctli  was 
placing  a  panache  *  on  Montezuma's  head.  In  the  third 
cartoon,  he  was  with  the  army,  going  to  battle.  In  the 

*  Or  capilli,  —  the  king's  crown.  A  pcvt.ache  was  the  head-dress  of  a 
warrior. 


36  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


fourth,  he  was  seated,  while  a  man  clad  in  nequen*  bU$ 
crowned,  stood  before  him. 

"  Yon  have  grown  familiar  with  triumphs,  and  it  is  many 
summers  since,  0  king,"  said  Mualox ;  "  but  you  have  not 
yet  forgotten  the  gladness  of  your  first  conquest.  Here  is 
its  record.  As  we  go  on,  recall  the  kings  who  were  thus 
made  to  stand  before  you." 

And  counting  as  they  proceeded,  Montezuma  found  that 
in .  every  cartoon  there  was  an  additional  iigure  crowned 
and  in  nequen.  When  they  came  to  the  one  next  the  last 
on  the  western  wall,  he  said,  — 

"  Show  me  the  meaning  of  all  this  :  here  are  thirty 
kings." 

"  Will  the  king  tell  his  slave  the  number  of  cities  he  has 
conquered  1 " 

He  thought  awhile,  and  replied,  "  Thirty." 

"  Then  the  record  is  faithful.  It  started  with  the  first 
king  of  Tenochtitlan ;  it  came  down  to  your  coronation  ; 
now,  it  has  numbered  your  conquests.  See  you  not,  0 
king  ]  Behind  us,  all  the  writing  is  of  the  past ;  this  is 
Montezuma  and  Teuochtitlan  as  they  are :  the  present  is 
before  us  !  Could  the  hand  that  set  this  chamber  and 
carved  these  walls  have  been  a  man's  ?  Who  but  a  god  six 
cycles  ago  could  have  foreseen  that  a  son  of  the  son  of  Axa- 
ya'  would  cany  the  rulers  of  thirty  conquered  cities  in  his 
train]" 

The  royal  visitor  listened  breathlessly.  He  began  to  com 
prehend  the  writing,  and  thrill  with  fast-coming  presenti 
ments.  Yet  he  struggled  with  his  fears. 

"  Prophecy  has  to  do  \\dth  the  future,"  he  said  ;  "  and  you 
have  shown  me  nothing  that  the  sculptors  and  jewellers  in 

*  A  garment  of  coarse  white  material,  made  from  the  fibre  of  the  aloe, 
and  by  court  etiquette  required  to  be  worn  by  courtiers  and  suitors  in  the 
king's  presence.  The  rule  appears  to  have  been  of  universal  application. 


THE   PROPHECY    ON  THE  WALL.  37 

pay  palace  cannot  do.  Would  you  have  me  believe  all  this 
from  Quetzal',  show  me  something  that  is  to  come." 

Mualox  led  him  to  the  next  scene  which  represented  the 
king  sitting  in  state  ;  above  him  a  canopy  ;  his  nobles  and 
the  women  of  his  household  around  him  ;  at  his  feet  the  peo 
ple  ;  and  all  were  looking  at  a  combat  going  on  between 
warriors. 

"  You  have  asked  for  prophecy,  —  behold  !  "  said  Mua 
lox. 

"  I  see  nothing,"  replied  the  king. 

"  Nothing  !  Is  not  this  the  celebration  to-morrow  1  Since 
it  was  ordered,  could  your  sculptors  have  executed  what  you 


Back  to  the  monarch's  face  stole  the  pallor. 

"  Look  again,  0  king  !  You  only  saw  yourself,  your  peo 
ple  and  warriors.  But  what  is  this  1  " 

Walking  up,  he  laid  his  finger  on  the  representation  of  a 
man  landing  from  a  canoe. 

"  The  last  we  beheld  of  Quetzal',"  he  continued,  "  was  on 
the  southern  wall  ;  his  back  was  to  Tenochtitlan,  which  he 
was  leaving  with  a  curse.  All  you  have  heard  about  his 
promise  to  return  is  true.  He  himself  has  written  the  very 
day,  and  here  it  is.  Look  !  While  the  king,  his  warriors 
and  people,  are  gathered  to  the  combat,  Quetzal'  steps  from 
the  canoe  to  the  sea-shore." 

The  figure  in  the  carving  was  scarcely  two  hands  high,  but 
exquisitely  wrought.  With  terror  poorly  concealed,  Monte. 
zuma  recognized  it. 

"And  now  my  promise  is  redeemed.  I  said  I  would 
give  you  to  read  a  message  from  the  sun." 

"  Eead,  Mualox:  I  cannot." 

The  holy  man  turned  to  the  writing,  and  said,  with  a 
swelling  voice,  "  Thus  writes  Quetzal'  to  Montezuma,  the 
king  !  In  the  last  day  he  will  seek  to  stay  my  vengeance  ; 


38  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


he  will  call  together  his  people  ;  there  will  be  combat  in 
Tenochtitlan  ;  but  in  the  midst  of  the  rejoicing  I  will  land 
on  the  sea-shore,  and  end  the  days  of  Azatlan  forever." 

"  Forever  !  "  said  the  unhappy  monarch.  "  No,  no  } 
Read  the  next  writing." 

"  There  is  no  other ;  this  is  the  last." 

The  eastern,  southern,  and  western  walls  had  been  suc 
cessively  passed,  and  interpreted.  ]STow  the  king  turned  to 
the  northern  wall  :  it  was  blank  !  His  eyes  flashed,  and  he 
almost  shouted,  — 

"  Liar  !  Quetzal'  may  come  to-morrow,  but  it  will  be  as 
friend.  There  is  no  curse ! " 

The  paba  humbled  himself  before  the  speaker,  and  said, 
slowly  and  tearfully,  "  The  wise  king  is  blinded  by  his  hope. 
When  Quetzal'  finished  this  chapter,  his  task  was  done ;  he 
had  recorded  the  last  day  of  perfect  glory,  and  ceased  to 
write  because,  Azatlan  being  now  to  perish,  there  was  noth 
ing  more  to  record.  0  unhappy  king  !  that  is  the  curse, 
and  it  needed  no  writing  ! " 

Montezuma  shook  with  passion. 

"  Lead  me  hence,  lead  me  hence  ! "  he  cried.  "  I  will 
\ratch ;  and  if  Quetzal'  comes  not  on  the  morrow,  —  conies 
not  during  the  celebration,  —  I  swear  to  level  this  temple, 
and  let  the  lake  into  its  chambers !  And  yoii,  paba 
though  you  be,  I  will  drown  you  like  a  slave !  Lead  on  ! " 

Mualox  obeyed  without  a  word.  Lamp  in  hand,  he  led 
his  visitors  from  the  splendid  chamber  up  to  the  azoteas  of 
the  ancient  house.  As  they  descended  the  eastern  steps,  he 
inelt,  and  kissed  the  pavement. 


A  BUSINESS   MAN   IN   TENOCHTITLAN.  39 


CHAPTER  YIIL 

A  BUSINESS  MAN  IN  TENOCHTITLAN. 

OLI,  the  Chalcan,  was  supposed  to  be  the  richest  cit* 
/v  zen,  exclusive  of  the  nobles,  in  Tenochtitlan.  Amongst 
other  properties,  he  owned  a  house  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
Tlateloco  tianguez,  or  market-place ;  which,  whether  con 
sidered  architecturally,  or  with  reference  to  the  business  to 
which  it  was  devoted,  or  as  the  device  of  an  unassoilzied 
heathen,  was  certainly  very  remarkable.  Its  portico  had  six 
great  columns  of  white  marble  alternating  six  others  of  green 
porphyry,  with  a  roof  guarded  by  a  parapet  intricately  and 
tastefully  carved ;  while  cushioned  lounges,  heavy  curtains 
festooned  and  flashing  with  cochineal,  and  a  fountain  of 
water  pure  enough  for  the  draught  of  a  king,  all  within  the 
columns,  perfected  it  as  a  retreat  from  the  sultry  summer  sun. 
The  house  thus  elegantly  garnished  was  not  a  meson,  or  a 
cafe,  or  a  theatre,  or  a  broker's  office  ;  but  rather  a  combina 
tion  of  them  all,  and  therefore  divided  into  many  apart 
ments  ;  of  which  one  was  for  the  sale  of  beverages  favorite 
among  the  wealthy  and  noble  Aztecs,  —  Bacchic  inventions, 
with  pulque  for  chief  staple,  since  it  had  the  sanction  of 
antiquity  and  was  mildly  intoxicating ;  another  was  a  res 
taurant,  where  the  cuisine  was  only  excelled  at  the  royal 
table ;  indeed,  there  was  a  story  abroad  that  the  king  had 
several  times  borrowed  the  services  of  the  Chalcan's 
artistes;  but,  whether  derived  from  the  master  or  his 
slaves,  the  shrewd  reader  will  conclude  from  it,  that 
the  science  of  advertising  was  known  and  practised  as 
well  in  Tenochtitlan  as  in  Madrid.  ISTor  were  these 
all.  Under  the  same  roof  were  rooms  for  the  amusement  of 


40  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


patrons,  —  for  reading,  smoking,  and  games ;  one  in  especial 
for  a  play  of  hazard  called  totoloque,  then  very  popular,  be 
cause  a  passion  of  Montezuma's.  Finally,  as  entertainments 
not  prohibited  by  the  teotuctli,  a  signal  would,  at  any  time, 
summon  a  minstrel,  a  juggler,  or  a  dancing-girl.  Hardly 
need  I  say  that  the  establishment  was  successful.  Always 
ringing  with  music,  and  of  nights  always  resplendent  with 
lamps,  it  was  always  overflowing  with  custom. 

"  So  old  Tepaja  wanted  you  to  be  a  merchant,"  said  the 
Cbalcan,  in  his  full,  round  voice,  as,  comfortably  seated  under 
the  curtains  of  his  portico,  he  smoked  his  pipe,  and  talked 
with  our  young  friend,  the  Tihuancan. 

"  Yes.     Now  that  he  is  old,  he  thinks  war  dangerous." 

"  You  mistake  him,  boy.  He  merely  thinks  with  me,  that 
there  is  something  more  real  in  wealth  and  many  slaves. 
As  he  has  grown  older,  he  has  grown  wiser." 

"  As  you  will.     I  could  not  be  a  merchant." 

"  Whom  did  you  think  of  serving  1 " 

"  The  'tzin  Guatamo."  * 

"  I  know  him.  He  comes  to  my  portico  sometimes,  but 
not  to  borrow  money.  You  see,  I  frequently  act  as  broker, 
and  take  deposits  from  the  merchants  and  securities  from 
the  spendthrift  nobles  ;  he,  however,  has  no  vices. 
When  not  with  the  army,  he  passes  the  time  in  study  ; 
though  they  do  say  he  goes  a  great  deal  to  the  palace  to 
make  love  to  the  princess.  And  now  that  I  reflect,  I  doubt 
if  you  can  get  place  with  him." 

"  Why  so  1 " 

"  Well,  he  keeps  no  idle  train,  and  the  time  is  very  quiet 
If  he  were  going  to  the  frontier  it  would  be  different." 

"  Indeed  !  " 

"  You  see,  boy,  he  is  the  bravest  man  and  best  fighter  in 

*  'Tzin  was  a  title  eqiiivalent  to  lord  in  English.     Guatanwtvin,  as 
compounded,  signifies  Lord  Ouatamo. 


A  BUSINESS   MAN   IN  TENOCHTITLAN.  41 

the  army ;  and  the  sensible  fellows  of  moderate  skill  and 
ambition  have  no  fancy  for  the  hot  place  in  a  fight,  which 
is  generally  where  he  is." 

"  The  discredit  is  not  to  him,  by  Our  Mother ! "  said 
Hualpa,  laughing. 

The  broker  stopped  to  cherish  the  fire  in  his  pipe,  —  an 
act  which  the  inexperienced  consider  wholly  incompatible' 
with  the  profound  reflection  he  certainly  indulged.  When 
next  he  spoke,  it  was  with  smoke  wreathing  his  round  face, 
^s  white  clouds  sometimes  wreathe  the  full  moon. 

"  About  an  hour  ago  a  fellow  came  here,  and  said  he  had 
neard  that  IztliT,  the  Tezcucan,  had  challenged  the  'tzin  to  go 
into  the  arena  with  him  to-morrow.  Not  a  bad  thing  lor 
the  god  Quetzal',  if  all  I  hear  be  true  ! " 

Again  the  pipe,  and  then  the  continuation. 

"  You  see,  when  the  combat  was  determined  on,  there 
happened  to  be  in  the  temples  two  Othmies  and  two  Tlas- 
calans,  warriors  of  very  great  report.  As  soon  as  it  became 
known  that,  by  the  king's  choice,  they  were  the  challengers, 
the  young  fellows  about  the  palace  shunned  the  sport,  and 
there  was  danger  that  the  god  would  find  himself  without  a 
champion.  To  avoid  such  a  disgrace,  the  'tzin  was  coming 
here  to-night  to  hang  his  shield  in  the  portico.  If  he  and 
the  Tezcucan  both  take  up  the  fight,  it  will  be  a  great  day 
indeed." 

The  silence  that  ensued  was  broken  by  the  hunter,  whom 
the  gossip  had  plunged  into  revery. 

"  I  pray  your  pardon,  Xoli ;  but  you  said,  I  think,  that  the 
lords  hang  back  from  the  danger.  Can  any  one  volunteer  ?  " 

"  Certainly ;  any  one  who  is  a  warrior,  and  is  in  time. 
Are  you  of  that  mind  ? " 

The  Chalcan  took  down  the  pipe,  and  looked  at  .him  ear 
nestly. 

"  If  I  had  the  arms  —  " 


THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  But  you  know  nothing  about  it,  —  not  even  how  such 
combats  are  conducted !  " 

The  broker  was  now  astonished. 

"  Listen  to  me,"  he  said.  "  These  combats  are  always  in 
honor  of  some  one  or  more  of  the  Aztecan  gods,  —  generally 
of  HuitziT,  god  of  war.  They  used  to  be  very  simple  af 
fairs.  A  small  platform  of  stone,  of  the  height  of  a  man, 
was  put  up  in  the  midst  of  the  tianguez,  so  as  to  be  seen  by 
the  people  standing  around;  and  upon  it,  in  pairs,  the 
champions  fought  their  duels.  This,  however,  was  too  plain 
to  suit  the  tastes  of  the  last  Montezuma ;  and  he  changed 
the  ceremony  into  a  spectacle  really  honorable  and  great. 
Now,  the  arena  is  first  prepared,  —  a  central  space  in  a  great 
many  rows  of  seats  erected  so  as  to  rise  one  above  the  other. 
At  the  proper  time,  the  people,  the  priests,  and  the  soldiers 
go  in  and  take  possession  of  their  allotted  places.  Some 
time  previous,  the  quarters  of  the  prisoners  taken  in  battle 
are  examined,  and  two  or  more  of  the  best  of  the  warriors 
found  there  are  chosen  by  the  king,  and  put  in  training  for 
the  occasion.  They  are  treated  fairly,  and  are  told  that,  if 
they  fight  and  win,  they  shall  be  crowned  as  heroes,  and 
returned  to  their  tribes.  No  need,  I  think,  to  tell  you  how 
brave  men  fight  when  stimulated  by  hope  of  glory  and  hope 
of  life.  When  chosen,  their  names  are  published,  and  their 
shields  hung  up  in  a  portico  on  the  other  side  of  the  square 
yonder ;  after  which  they  are  understood  to  be  the  challeng 
ers  of  any  equal  number  of  warriors  who  dare  become 
champions  of  the  god  or  gods  in  whose  honor  the  celebra 
tion  is  had.  Think  of  the  approved  skill  and  valor  of  the 
foe ;  think  of  the  thousands  who  will  be  present ;  think  of 
your  own  inexperience  in  war,  and  of  your  youth,  youi 
stature  hardly  gained,  your  muscles  hardly  matured ;  think 
of  everything  tending  to  weaken  your  chances  of  success,  — 
and  then  speak  to  me." 


A  BUSINESS  MAN   IN  TENOCHTITLAN.  43 

Hualpa  met  the  sharp  gaze  of  the  Chalcan  steadily,  and 
answered,  "  I  am  thought  to  have  some  skill  with  the  bow 
and  maquakuitl.  Get  me  the  opportunity,  and  I  will  fight." 

And  Xoli,  "who  was  a  sincere  friend,  reflected  awhile. 
"There  is  peril  in  the  undertaking,  to  be  sure;  but  then 
he  is  resolved  to  be  a  warrior,  and  if  he  survives,  it  is  glory 
at  once  gained,  fortune  at  once  made."  Then  he  arose,  and, 
smiling,  said  aloud,  "  Let  us  go  to  the  portico.  If  the  list 
be  not  full,  you  shall  have  the  arms,  —  yes,  by  the  Sun  !  as 
the  lordly  Aztecs  swear,  —  the  very  best  in  Tenochtitlan." 

And  they  lifted  the  curtains,  and  stepped  into  the  tian- 
guez*  The  light  of  the  fires  on  the  temples  was  hardly  more 
in  strength  than  the  shine  of  the  moon  ;  so  that  torches  had 
to  be  set  up  at  intervals  over  the  celebrated  square.  On  an 
ordinary  occasion,  with  a  visitation  of  forty  thousand  busy 
buyers  and  sellers,  it  was  a  show  of  merchants  and  mer 
chantable  staples  worthy  the  chief  mart  of  an  empire  so 
notable ;  but  now,  drawn  by  the  double  attraction  of  market 
and  celebration,  the  multitude  that  thronged  it  was  trebly 
greater  ;  yet  the  order  was  perfect. 

An  officer,  at  the  head  of  a  patrol,  passed  them  with  a 
prisoner. 

"  Ho,  Chalcan !  If  you  would  see  justice  done,  follow 
me." 

"Thanks,  thanks,  good  friend;  I  have  been  before  the 
judges  too  often  already." 

So  the  preservation  of  the  peace  was  no  mystery. 

The  friends  made  way  slowly,  giving  the  Tihuancan  time 
to  gratify  his  curiosity.  He  found  the  place  like  a  great 
national  fair,  in  which  few  branches  of  industry  were  unrep 
resented.  There  were  smiths  who  worked  in  the  coarser 

*  The  great  market-place  or  square  of  Tlateloco.  The  Spaniards  called  it 
tianguez.  For  description,  see  Prescott,  Conq.  of  Mexico,  Vol.  II.,  Book 
IV.  Benial  Diaz's  Work,  Hist,  de  la  Conq. 


44  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


metals,  and  jewellers  skilful  as  those  of  Europe  ;  there  were 
makers  and  dealers  in  furniture,  and  sandals,  and  plumaje  ; 
at  one  place  men  were  disposing  of  fruits,  flowers,  and  vege 
tables  ;  not  far  away  fishermen  boasted  their  stock  caught 
that  day  in  the  fresh  waters  of  Chalco  ;  tables  of  pastry  and 
maize  bread  were  set  next  the  quarters  of  the  hunters  of 
Xilotepec ;  the  armorers,  clothiers,  and  dealers  in  cotton 
were  each  of  them  a  separate  host.  In  no  land  where  a 
science  has  been  taught  or  a  book  written  have  the  fine  arts 
been  dishonored ;  and  so  in  the  great  market  of  Tenochtit- 
lan  there  were  no  galleries  so  rich  as  those  of  the  painters, 
nor  was  any  craft  allowed  such  space  for  their  exhibitions  as 
the  sculptors. 

They  halted  an  instant  before  a  porch  full  of  slaves.  A 
rapid  glance  at  the  miserable  wretches,  and  Xoli  said,  piti 
lessly,  "  Bah !  Mictlan  has  many  such.  Let  us  go." 

Farther  on  they  came  to  a  platform  on  which  a  band  of 
mountebanks  was  performing.  Hualpa  Avould  have  stayed 
to  witness  their  tableaux,  but  Xoli  was  impatient. 

"  You  see  yon  barber's  shop,"  he  said  ;  "  next  to  it  is  the 
portico  we  seek.  Come  on  !  " 

At  last  they  arrived  there,  and  mixed  with  the  crowd 
curious  like  themselves. 

"  Ah,  boy,  you  are  too  late  !     The  list  is  full." 

The  Chalcan  spoke  regretfully. 

Hualpa  looked  for  himself.  On  a  clear  white  wall,  that 
fairly  glistened  with  the  flood  of  light  pouring  upon  it,  he 
counted  eight  shields,  or  gages  of  battle.  Over  the  four  to  the 
left  were  picture-written,  "  Othmies,"  "  Tlascalans."  They 
belonged  to  the  challengers,  and  were  battered  and  stained, 
proving  that  their  gathering  had  been  in  no  field  of  peace. 
The  four  to  the  right  were  of  the  Aztecs,  and  all  bore  de 
vices  except  one.  A  sentinel  stood  sileritly  beneath  them. 

w  Welcome,  Chalcan  !  "  said  a  citizen,  saluting  the  broker. 


A   BUSINESS   MAN  IN  TENOCHTITLAN.  45 

"  You  are  in  good  time  to  tell  us  the  owners  of  the  shields 
here." 

"  Of  the  Aztecs  ?  " 

«  Yes." 

"  Well,"  said  Xoli,  slowly  and  gravely.  "  The  shields  I 
do  not  know  are  few  and  of  little  note.  At  one  time  or 
another  I  have  seen  them  all  pass  my  oortico  going  to 
battle." 

A  bystander,  listening,  whispered  to  his  friends,  — 

"  The  braggart !  He  says  nothing  of  the  times  the  owners 
passed  his  door  to  get  a  pinch  of  his  snuff." 

"  Or  to  get  drunk  on  his  abominable  pulque"  said  another. 

"  Or  to  get  a  loan,  leaving  their  palaces  in  pawn,"  said  a 
third  party. 

But  Xoli  went  on  impressively,  — 

"  Those  two  to  the  left  belong  to  a  surly  Otompan  and  a 
girl-faced  Cholulan.  They  had  a  quarrel  in  the  king's  gar 
den,  and  this  is  the  upshot.  That  other,  —  surely,  0  citizens, 
you  know  the  shield  of  IztliT,  the  Tezcucan  1 " 

"  Yes  ;  but  its  neighbor  ? " 

"  The  plain  shield  !  Its  owner  has  a  name  to  win.  I  can 
find  you  enough  such  here  in  the  market  to  equip  an  army. 
Say,  soldier,  whose  gage  is  that  ? " 

The  sentinel  shook  his  head.  "  A  page  came  not  long  ago, 
and  asked  me  to  hang  it  up  by  the  side  of  the  Tezcucan's. 
He  said  not  whom  he  served." 

"  Well,  maybe  you  know  the  challengers." 

"  Two  of  the  shields  belong  to  a  father  and  son  of  the 
tribe  of  Othmies.  In  the  last  battle  the  son  alone  slew  eight 
Cernpoallan  warriors  for  us.  Tlascalans,  whose  names  I  do 
Hot  know,  own  the  others." 

"  Do  you  think  they  will  escape  1 "  asked  a  citizen. 

The  sentinel  smiled  grimly,  and  said,  "  Not  if  it  be  true 
that  yon  plain  shield  belongs  to  Guatamo,  the  'tzin." 


46  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


Directly  a  patrol,  rudely  thrusting  the  citizens  aside,  came 
to  relieve  the  guard.  In  the  confusion,  the  Chalcan  whis 
pered  to  his  friend,  "  Let  us  go  back.  There  is  no  chance 
for  you  in  the  arena  to-morrow  ;  and  this  new  fellow  is  sul 
len  ;  his  tongue  would  not  wag  though  I  promised  him  drink 
from  the  king's  vase." 

Soon  after  they  reached  the  Chalcan's  portico  and  disap 
peared  in  the  building,  the  cry  of  the  night-watchers  arose 
from  the  temples,  and  the  market  was  closed.  The  great 
crowd  vanished ;  in  stall  and  portico  the  lights  were  extin 
guished  ;  but  at  once  another  scene  equally  tumultuous 
usurped  the  tianguez.  Thousands  of  half-naked  tamanes 
rushed  into  the  deserted  place,  and  all  night  long  it  re 
sounded,  like  a  Babel,  with  clamor  of  tongues,  and  notes 
of  mighty  preparation. 


THE   QUESTIONER   OP   THE   MORNING. 

~Y~YT"HEN  Montezuma  departed  from  the  old  Cu  for  his 
V  V  palace,  it  was  not  to  sleep  or  rest.  The  revelation 
that  so  disturbed  him,  that  held  him  wordless  on  the  street, 
and  made  him  shrink  from  his  people,  wild  with  the  promise 
of  pomp  and  combat,  would  not  be  shut  out  by  gates  and 
guards  ;  it  clung  to  his  memory,  and  with  him  stood  by  the 
fountain,  walked  in  the  garden,  and  laid  down  on  his  couch. 
Royalty  had  no  medicine  for  the  trouble ;  he  was  restless  as 
a  fevered  slave,  and  at  times  muttered  prayers,  pronouncing 
no  name  but  Quetzal's.  When  the  morning  approached,  he 
called  Maxtla,  and  bade  him  get  ready  his  canoe  :  from 
Chapultepec,  the  palace  and  tomb  of  his  fathers,  he  would  see 
the  sun  rise. 


THE  QUESTIONER  OF  THE  MORNING.  47 

From  one  of  the  westerly  canals  they  put  out.  The  lake 
was  still  rocking  the  night  on  its  bosom,  and  no  light  other 
than  of  the  stars  shone  in  the  east.  The  gurgling  sound  of 
waters  parted  by  the  rushing  vessel,  and  the  regular  dip  of 
the  paddles,  were  all  that  disturbed  the  brooding  of  majesty 
abroad  thus  early  on  Tezcuco. 

The  canoe  struck  the  white  pebbles  that  strewed  the  land 
ing  at  the  princely  property  just  as  dawn  was  dappling  the 
sky.  On  the  highest  point  of  the  hill  there  was  a  tower 
from  which  the  kings  were  accustomed  to  observe  the  stars. 
Thither  Montezuma  went.  Maxtla,  who  alone  dared  follow, 
spread  a  mat  for  him  on  the  tiles ;  kneeling  upon  it,  and 
folding  his  hands  worshipfully  upon  his  breast,  he  looked 
to  the  east. 

And  the  king  was  learned ;  indeed,  one  more  so  was 
not  in  all  his  realm.  In  his  student  days,  and  in  Ms  priest 
hood,  before  he  was  taken  from  sweeping  the  temple  to  be 
arch-Hder,  he  had  gained  astrological  craft,  and  yet  practised 
it  from  habit.  The  heavens,' with  their  blazonry,  were  to 
him  as  pictured  parchments.  He  loved  the  stars  for  their 
sublime  mystery,  and  had  faith  in  them  as  oracles.  He  con 
sulted  them  always ;  his  armies  marched  at  their  bidding  ; 
and  they  and  the  gods  controlled  every  movement  of  his 
civil  polity.  But  as  he  had  never  before  been  moved  by  so 
great  a  trouble,  and  as  the  knowledge  he  now  sought  directly 
concerned  his  throne  and  nations,  he  came  to  consult  and 
question  the  Morning,  that  intelligence  higher  and  purer 
than  the  stars.  If  Quetzal'  was  angered,  and  would  that 
day  land  for  vengeance,  he  naturally  supposed  the  Sun,  his 
dwelling-place,  would  give  some  warning.  So  he  came  seek 
ing  the  mood  of  the  god  from  the  Sun. 

And  while  he  knelt,  gradually  the  gray  dawn  melted  into 
purple  and  gold.  The  stars  went  softly  out.  Long  rays, 
like  radiant  spears,  shot  up  and  athwart  the  sky.  As  the  in- 


48  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


dications  multiplied,  his  hopes  arose.  Farther  back  he  threw 
the  hood  from  his  brow  ;  the  sun  seemed  coming  clear  and 
cloudless  above  the  mountains,  kindling  his  heart  no  less 
than  the  air  and  earth. 

A  wide  territory,  wrapped  in  the  tarn  light,  extended  be 
neath  his  feet.  There  slept  Tenochtitlan,  with  her  shining 
temples  and  blazing  towers,  her  streets  and  resistless  nation 
ality  ;  there  were  the  four  lakes,  with  their  blue  waters,  their 
shores  set  with  cities,  villages  and  gardens ;  beyond  them 
lay  eastern  Anahuac,  the  princeliest  jewel  of  the  Empire. 
What  with  its  harvests,  its  orchards,  and  its  homesteads,  its 
forests  of  oak,  sycamore,  and  cedar,  its  population  busy, 
happy,  and  faithful,  contented  as  tillers  of  the  soil,  and  brave 
as  lions  in  time  of  need,  it  was  all  of  Aden  he  had  ever 
known  or  dreamed. 

In  the  southeast,  above  a  long  range  of  mountains,  rose 
the  volcanic  peaks  poetized  by  the  Aztecs  into  "  The  White 
Woman"*  and  "The  Smoking  HilL"t  Mythologf  had 
covered  them  with  sanctifying  faith,  as,  in  a  different  age 
and  more  classic  clime,  it  clothed  the  serene  mountain  of 
Thessaly. 

But  the  king  saw  little  of  all  this  beauty ;  he  observed 
nothing  but  the  sun,  which  was  rising  a  few  degrees  north 
of  "  The  Smoking  Hill."  In  all  the  heavens  round  there 
was  not  a  fleck ;  and  already  his  heart  throbbed  with  de 
light,  when  suddenly  a  cloud  of  smoke  rushed  upward  from 
the  mountain,  and  commenced  gathering  darkly  about  its 
white  summit.  Quick  to  behold  it,  he  scarcely  hushed  a  cry 
of  fear,  and  instinctively  waved  his  hand,  as  if,  by  a  kingly 
gesture,  to  stay  the  eruption.  Slowly  the  vapor  crept  over 
the  roseate  sky,  and,  breathless  and  motionless,  the  seeker 
of  the  god's  mood  and  questioner  of  the  Morning  watched 
its  progress.  Across  the  pathway  of  the  sun  it  stretched,  S6 

*  Iztaccihuatl.  f  Popocatepetl. 


THE  QUESTIONER  OF  THE  MORNING.  49 

that  when  the  disk  wheeled  fairly  above  the  mountain- 
range,  it  looked  like  a  ball  of  blood. 

The  king  was  a  reader  of  picture-writing,  and  skilful  in 
deducing  the  meaning  of  men  from  cipher  and  hieroglyph. 
Straightway  he  interpreted  the  phenomenon  as  a  direful  por 
tent  ;  and  because  he  came  looking  for  omens,  the  idea  that 
this  was  a  message  sent  him  expressly  from  the  gods  was 
but  a  right  royal  vanity.  He  drew  the  hood  over  his  face 
again,  and  drooped  his  head  disconsolately  upon  his  breast. 
His  mind  filled  with  a  host  of  gloomy  thoughts.  The  rev 
elation  of  Mualox  was  prophecy  here  confirmed,  —  Quet 
zal'  was  coming  !  Throne,  power,  people,  —  all  the  glo 
ries  of  his  country  and  Empire,  —  he  saw  snatched  from 
his  nerveless  grasp,  and  floating  away,  like  the  dust  of  the 
valley. 

After  a  while  he  arose  to  depart.  One  more  look  he  gave 
the  sun  before  descending  from  the  roof,  and  shuddered  at 
the  sight  of  city,  lake,  valley,  the  cloud  itself,  and  the  sky 
above  it,  all  colored  with  an  ominous  crimson. 

"  Behold  !  "  he  said,  tremulously,  to  Maxtla,  "  to-day  we 
will  sacrifice  to  Quetzal' :  how  long  until  Quetzal'  sacrifices 
to  himself]" 

The  chief  cast  down  his  eyes ;  for  he  knew  how  dangerous 
it  was  to  look  on  royalty  humbled  by  fear.  Then  Monte- 
zuma  shaded  his  face  again,  and  left  the  proud  old  hill,  with 
a  sigh  for  its  palaces  and  the  beauty  of  its  great  cypress- 
groves. 


50  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


CHAPTEE  X. 

GOING    TO    THE    COMBAT. 

AS  the  morning  advanced,  the  city  grew  fully  animate, 
A  festal  spirit  was  abroad,  seeking  display  in  masks, 
mimes,  and  processions.  Jugglers  performed  on  the  street- 
corners  ;  dancing-girls,  with  tambours,  and  long  elf-locks 
dressed  in  flowers,  possessed  themselves  of  the  smooth  side 
walks.  Very  plainly,  the  evil  omen  of  the  morning  affected 
the  king  more  than  his  people. 

The  day  advanced  clear  and  beautiful.  In  the  eastern 
sky  the  smoke  of  the  volcano  still  lingered ;  but  the  sun 
rose  above  it,  and  smiled  on  the  valley,  like  a  loving 
god. 

At  length  the  tambour  in  the  great  temple  sounded  the 
signal  of  assemblage.  Its  deep  tones,  penetrating  every 
recess  of  the  town  and  rushing  across  the  lake,  were  heard 
in  the  villages  on  the  distant  shores.  Then,  in  steady  cur 
rents,  the  multitudes  set  forward  for  the  lianguez.  The 
chinampas  were  deserted ;  hovels  and  palaces  gave  up  their 
tenantry  ;  canoes,  gay  with  garlands,  were  abandoned  in  the 
waveless  canals.  The  women  and  children  came  down  from 
the  roofs ;  from  all  the  temples  —  all  but  the  old  one  with 
the  solitary  gray  tower  and  echoless  court  —  poured  the 
priesthood  in  processions,  headed  by  chanting  choirs,  and 
interspersed  with  countless  sacred  symbols.  Many  were  the 
pomps,  but  that  of  the  warriors  surpassed  all  others.  March 
ing  in  columns  of  thousands,  they  filled  the  streets  with 
flashing  arms  and  gorgeous  regalia,  roar  of  attabals  and  peals 
of  minstrelsy. 

About  the  same  time  the  royal  palanquin  stood  at  tho 


GOING  TO  THE  COMBAT.  51 

palace  portal,  engoldened,  jewelled,  and  surmounted  with  a 
panache  of  green  plumes.  Cuitlahua,  Cacama,  Maxtla,  and 
the  lords  of  Tlacopan,  Tepejaca,  and  Cholula,  with  other 
nobles  from  the  provinces  far  and  near,  were  collected  about 
it  in  waiting,  sporting  on  their  persons  the  wealth  of  princi 
palities.  When  the  monarch  came  out,  they  knelt,  and 
every  one  of  them  placed  his  palm  on  the  ground  before 
him.  On  the  last  stone  at  the  portal  he  stopped,  and  raised 
his  eyes  to  the  sky.  A  piece  of  aguave,  fluttering  like  a 
leaf,  fell  so  near  him  that  he  reached  out  his  hand  and 
caught  it. 

"  Read  it,  my  lords,"  he  said,  after  a  moment's  study. 

The  paper  contained  only  the  picture  of  an  eagle  attacked 
by  an  owl,  and  passed  from  hand  to  hand.  Intent  on  de 
ciphering  the  writing,  none  thought  of  inquiring  whether  its 
coming  was  of  design  or  accident. 

"  What  does  it  mean,  my  lord  Cacama  ? "  asked  the  mon 
arch,  gravely. 

Cacama's  eyes  dropped  as  he  replied,  — 

"  When  we  write  of  you,  0  king,  we  paint  an  eagle ; 
When  we  write  of  the  'tzin  Guatamo,  we  paint  an  owl." 

"  What ! "  said  the  lord  Cuitlahua,  "  would  the  'tzin  attack 
his  king  1 " 

And  the  monarch  looked  from  one  to  the  other  strangely, 
saying  only,  "  The  owl  is  the  device  on  his  shield." 

Then  he  entered  the  palanquin  ;  whereupon  some  of  the 
nobles  lilted  it  on  their  shoulders,  and  the  company,  in 
procession,  set  out  for  the  tianguez.  On  the  way  they  were 
joined  by  Iztlil',  the  Tezcucan ;  and  it  was  remarkable 
that,  of  them  all,  he  was  the  only  one  silent  about  the 
paper. 

The  Iztapalapan  street,  of  great  width,  and  on  both  sides 
lined  with  gardens,  palaces,  and  temples,  was  not  only  the 
boast  of  Tenochtitlan  ;  its  beauty  was  told  in  song  and  story 


52  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


throughout  the  Empire.  The  signal  of  assemblage  for  the 
day's  great  pastime  found  Xoli  and  his  provincial  friend 
lounging  along  the  broad  pave  of  the  beautiful  thoroughfare. 
They  at  once  started  for  the  tianguez.  The  broker  was  fat, 
and  it  was  troublesome  for  him  to  keep  pace  with  the  hunter ; 
nevertheless,  they  overtook  a  party  of  iamanes  going  in  the 
same  direction,  and  bearing  a  palanquin  richly  caparisoned. 
The  slaves,  very  sumptuously  clad,  proceeded  slowly  and 
with  downcast  eyes,  and  so  steadily  that  the  carriage  had 
the  onward,  gliding  motion  of  a  boat. 

"  Lower,  —  down,  boy  !  See  you  not  the  green  panache?  " 
whispered  Xoli,  half  frightened. 

Too  late.  The  Chalcan,  even  as  he  whispered,  touched 
the  pavement,  but  Hualpa  remained  erect :  not  only  that ; 
he  looked  boldly  into  the  eyes  of  the  occupants  of  the  palan 
quin,  —  two  women,  whose  beauty  shone  upon  him  like  a  sud 
den  light.  Then  he  bent  his  head,  and  his  heart  closed  upon 
the  recollection  of  what  he  saw  so  that  it  never  escaped.  The 
picture  was  of  a  girl,  almost  a  woman,  laughing ;  opposite 
her,  and  rather  in  the  shade  of  the  fringed  curtain,  one  older, 
though  young,  and  grave  and  stately  ;  her  hair  black,  her 
face  oval,  her  eyes  large  and  lustrous.  To  her  he  made  his 
involuntary  obeisance.  Afterwards  she  reminded  many  a 
Spaniard  of  the  dark-eyed  hermosura  with  whom  he  had 
left  love-tokens  in  his  native  land. 

"They  are  the  king's  daughters,  the  princesses  Tula 
and  Nenetzin,"  said  Xoli,  when  fairly  past  the  carriage. 
"  And  as  you  have  just  come  up  from  the  country,  listen. 
Green  is  the  royal  color,  and  belongs  to  the  king's  family ; 
and  wherever  met,  in  the  city  or  on  the  lake,  the  people 
salute  it.  Though  what  they  meet  be  but  a  green  feather  in 
a  slave's  hand,  they  salute.  Eemember  the  lesson.  By  the 
way,  the  gossips  say  that  Guatamozin  will  marry  Tula,  the 
eldest  one." 


GOING  TO  THE  COMBAT.  53 

"  She  is  very  beautiful,"  said  the  hunter,  as  to  himself, 
and  slackening  his  steps. 

"  Are  you  mad  1 "  cried  the  broker,  seizing  his  arm. 
"  Would  you  bring  the  patrol  upon  us  ?  They  are  not  for 
sucli  as  you.  Come  on.  It  may  be  we  can  get  seats  to  see 
the  king  and  his  whole  household." 

At  the  entrance  to  the  arena  there  was  a  press  which  the 
police  could  hardly  control.  In  the  midst  of  it,  Xoli  pulled 
his  companion  to  one  side,  saying,  "  The  king  comes  !  Let 
us  under  the  staging  here  until  he  passes." 

They  found  themselves,  then,  close  by  the  spears,  which, 
planted  in  the  ground,  upheld  the  shields  of  the  combatants ; 
and  when  the  Tihuancan  heard  the  people,  as  they  streamed 
in,  cheer  the  champions  of  the  god,  he  grieved  sorely  that  he 
was  not  one  of  them. 

The  heralds  then  came  up,  clearing  the  way  ;  and  all  there 
about  knelt,  and  so  received  the  monarch.  He  stopped  to 
inspect  the  shields ;  for  in  all  his  realm  there  was  not  one 
better  versed  in  its  heraldry.  A  diadem,  not  unlike  the 
papal  tiara,  crowned  his  head  ;  his  tunic  and  cloak  were  of 
the  skins  of  green  humming-birds  brilliantly  iridescent ;  a 
rope  of  pearls  large  as  grapes  hung,  many  times  doubled,  from 
his  neck  down  over  his  breast ;  his  sandals  and  sandal- 
thongs  were  embossed  with  gold,  and  besides  anklets  of 
massive  gold,  cuishes  of  the  same  metal  guarded  his  legs  from 
knee  to  anklet.  Save  the  transparent,  lustrous  gray  of  the 
pearls,  his  dress  was  of  the  two  colors,  green  and  yellow,  and 
the  effect  was  indescribably  royal ;  yet  all  the  bravery  of  his 
trappings  could  not  hide  from  Hualpa,  beholding  him  for  the 
first  time,  that,  like  any  common  soul,  he  was  suffering  from 
some  trouble  of  mind. 

"  So,  Cacama,"  he  said,  pleasantly,  after  a  look  at  the 
gages,  "  your  brother  has  a  mind  to  make  peace  with  the  gods 
It  is  well !  " 


54  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


And  thereupon  Iztlil'  himself  stepped  out  and  knelt  before 
him  in  battle  array,  the  javelin  in  his  hand,  and  bow,  quiver, 
and  maquahuitl  at  his  back  ;  and  in  his  homage  the  floating 
feathers  of  his  helm  brushed  the  dust  from  the  royal  feet. 

"  It  is  well !  "  repeated  the  king,  smiling.  "  But,  son  of 
;my  friend,  where  are  your  comrades  1 " 

Tlahua,  the  Otompan,  and  the  young  Cholulan,  equipped 
like  Iztlil',  rendered  their  homage  also.  Over  their  heads  he 
extended  his  hands,  and  said,  softly,  "  They  who  love  the 
gods,  the  gods  love.  Put  your  trust  in  them,  0  my  children ! 
And  upon  you  be  their  blessing !  " 

And  already  he  had  passed  the  spears  :  one  gage  was  for-, 
gotten,  one  combatant  unblessed.  Suddenly  he  looked  back 

"  Whose  shield  is  that,  my  lords  1 " 

All  eyes  rested  upon  the  plain  gage,  but  no  one  replied. 

"  Who  is  he  that  thus  mocks  the  holy  cause  of  Quetzal'  1 
Go,  Maxtla,  and  bring  him  to  me !  " 

Then  outspake  Iztlil'. 

"  The  shield  is  Guatamozin's.  Last  night  he  challenged 
me  to  this  combat,  and  he  is  not  here.  0  king,  the  owl 
may  be  looking  for  the  eagle." 

A  moment  the  sadly  serene  countenance  of  the  monarch 
knit  and  flushed  as  from  a  passing  pain ;  a  moment  he  re 
garded  the  Tezcucan.  Then  he  turned  to  the  shields  of  the 
Othmies  and  Tlascalans. 

"  They  are  a  sturdy  foe,  and  I  warrant  will  fight  hard,"  he 
said,  quietly.  "  But  such  victims  are  the  delight  of  the  gods. 
Fail  me  not,  0  children  ! " 

When  the  Tihuancan  and  his  chaperone  climbed  half-way 
to  the  upper  row  of  seats,  in  the  quarter  assigned  to  the  peo 
ple,  the  former  was  amazed.  He  looked  down  on  a  circulai 
arena,  strewn  with  white  sand  from  the  lake,  and  large  enough 
for  manoeuvring  half  a  thoxisand  men.  It  was  bounded  by 
a  rope,  outside  of  which  was  a  broad  margin  crowded  with 


GOING  TO  THE  COMBAT.  55 


rank  on  rank  of  common  soldiery,  whose  shields  were  ar 
ranged  before  them  like  a  wall  impervious  to  a  glancing 
arrow.  Back  from  the  arena  extended  the  staging,  rising 
gradually  seat  above  seat,  platform  above  platform,  until  the 
whole  area  of  the  tianguez  was  occupied. 

"  Is  the  king  a  magician,  that  he  can  do  this  thing  in  a 
single  night  1 "  asked  Hualpa. 

Xoli  laughed.  "  He  has  done  many  things  much  greater. 
The  timbers  you  see  were  wrought  long  ago,  and  have  been 
lying  in  the  temples ;  the  tamanes  had  only  to  bring  them 
out  and  put  them  together." 

In  the  east  there  was  a  platform,  carpeted,  furnished  with 
lounges,  and  protected  from  the  sun  by  a  red  canopy ;  broad 
passages  of  entrance  separated  it  from  the  ruder  structure 
erected  for  the  commonalty ;  it  was  also  the  highest  of  the 
platforms,  so  that  its  occupants  could  overlook  the  whole 
amphitheatre.  This  lordlier  preparation  belonged  to  the  king, 
his  household  and  nobles.  So,  besides  his  wives  and  daugh 
ters,  under  the  red  canopy  sat  the  three  hundred  women  of 
his  harem,  —  soft  testimony  that  Orientalism  dwelt  not  alone 
in  the  sky  and  palm-trees  of  the  valley. 

As  remarked,  the  margin  around  the  arena  belonged  to  the 
soldiery  ;  the  citizens  had  seats  in  the  north  and  south ; 
while  the  priesthood,  superior  to  either  of  them  in  sanctity 
of  character,  sat  aloof  in  the  west,  also  screened  by  a  canopy. 
And,  as  the  celebration  was  regarded  in  the  light  of  a  relig 
ious  exercise,  not  only  did  women  crowd  the  place,  but 
mothers  brought  their  children,  that,  from  the  examples  of 
the  arena,  they  might  learn  to  be  warriors. 

Upon  the  appearance  of  the  monarch  there  was  a  perfect 
calm.  Standing  awhile  by  his  couch,  he  looked  over  the 
scene  ;  and  not  often  has  royal  vision  been  better  filled  with 
all  that  constitutes  royalty.  Opposite  him  he  saw  the  servi 
tors  of  his  religion  ;  at  his  feet  were  his  warriors  and  people 


56  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


almost  innumerable.  When,  at  last,  the  minstrels  of  the 
soldiery  poured  their  wild  music  over  the  theatre,  he  thrilled 
with  the  ecstasy  of  power. 

The  champions  for  the  god  then  came  in ;  and  as  they 
strode  across  to  the  western  side  of  the  arena  the  air  was 
filled  with  plaudits  and  flying  garlands ;  but  hardly  was  the 
welcome  ended  before  there  was  a  great  hum  and  stir,  as  the 
spectators  asked  each  other  why  the  fourth  combatant  came 
not  with  the  others. 

"  The  one  with  the  bright  panache,  asked  you  1  That  is 
IztliF,  the  Tezcucan,"  said  Xoli. 

"  Is  he  not  too  fine  1 " 

"  No.  Only  think  of  the  friends  the  glitter  has  made  him 
among  the  women  and  children." 

The  Chalcan  laughed  heartily  at  the  cynicism. 

"  And  the  broad-shouldered  fellow  now  fixing  the  thongs 
of  his  shield  r' 

"  The  Otompan,  —  a  good  warrior.  They  say  he  goes  to 
battle  with  the  will  a  girl  goes  to  a  feast.  The  other  is  the 
Cholulan ;  he  has  his  renown  to  win,  and  is  too  young." 

"But  he  may  have  other  qualities,"  suggested  Hualpa. 
"  I  have  heard  it  said  that,  in  a  battle  of  arrows,  a  quick  eye 
is  better  than  a  strong  arm." 

The  broker  yawned.  "  Well,  I  like  not  those  Cholulans. 
They  are  proud  ;  they  scorn  the  other  nations,  even  the 
Aztecs.  Probably  it  is  well  they  are  better  priests  than 
soldiers.  Under  the  red  canopy  yonder  I  see  his  father." 

"  Listen,  good  Xoli.  I  hear  the  people  talking  about  the 
'tzin  ?  Where  can  he  be  1 " 

Just  then  within  the  wall  of  shields  there  came  a  warrior, 
who  strode  swiftly  toward  the  solitary  gage.  His  array  was 
less  splendid  than  his  comrades' ;  his  helm  was  of  plain 
leather  without  ornament ;  his  escanpil  was  secured  by  a 
simple  loop  :  yet  the  people  knew  him,  and  shouted ;  and 


GOING  TO  THE  COMBAT.  57 

when  he  took  down  the  plain  shield  and  fixed  it  to  his  arm, 
the  approbation  of  the  common  soldiery  arose  like  a  storm. 
As  they  bore  such  shields  to  battle,  he  became,  as  it  were, 
their  peculiar  representative.  It  was  Guatamozin. 

And  under  the  royal  canopy  there  was  rapid  exchange  of 
whispers  and  looks  ;  every  mind  reverted  to  the  paper 
dropped  so  mysteriously  into  the  king's  hand  at  the  palace 
door ;  and  some  there  were,  acuter  than  the  rest,  who  saw 
corroboration  of  the  meaning  given  the  writing  in  the  fact 
that  the  shield  the  'tzin  now  chose  was  without  the  owl,  his 
usual  device.  Whether  the  monarch  himself  was  one  of 
them  might  not  be  said;  his  face  was  as  impassive  as 
bronze. 

Next,  the  Othmies  and  Tlascalans,  dignified  into  common 
challengers  of  the  proudest  chiefs  of  Tenochtitlan,  were  con 
ducted  into  the  arena. 

The  Tlascalans  were  strong  men  used  to  battle ;  and 
though,  like  their  companions  in  danger,  at  first  bewildered 
by  the  sudden  introduction  to  so  vast  a  multitude,  they 
became  quickly  inured  to  the  situation.  Of  the  Oth 
mies,  a  more  promising  pair  of  gladiators  never  exhibited 
before  a  Roman  audience.  The  father  was  past  the  prime  of 
life,  but  erect,  broad-shouldered,  and  of  unusual  dignity; 
the  son  was  slighter,  and  not  so  tall,  but  his  limbs  were 
round  and  beautiful,  and  he  looked  as  if  he  might  outleap 
an  antelope.  The  people  were  delighted,  and  cheered  the 
challengers  with  scarcely  less  heartiness  than  their  own 
champions.  Still,  the  younger  Othmi  appeared  hesitant, 
and,  when  the  clamor  somewhat  abated,  the  sire  touched 
him,  and  said,  — 

"  Does  my  boy  dream  1  What  voice  is  in  his  ear  that  his 
heart  is  so  melted  ?  Awake  J  the  shield  is  on  the  arm  of 
the  foe." 

The  young  man  aroused.  "  I  saw  the  sun  on  the  green 
3* 


58  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


hills  of  Othmi.  But  see ! "  he  said,  proudly,  and  with 
flashing  eyes,  "there  is  no  weakness  in  the  dreamer's  arm." 
And  with  the  words,  he  seized  a  bow  at  his  feet,  fitted  an 
arrow  upon  the  cord,  and,  drawing  full  to  the  head,  sent 
it  cleaving  the  sunshine  far  above  them.  Every  eye  fol 
lowed  its  flight  but  his  own.  "  The  arm,  0  chief,  is  not 
stronger  than  the  heart,"  he  added,  carelessly  dropping  the 
bow. 

The  old  warrior  gazed  at  him  tenderly ;  but  as  that  was 
no  time  for  the  indulgence  of  affection,  he  turned  to  the 
Tlascalans,  and  said,  "  We  must  be  ready  :  let  us  arm." 

Each  donned  a  leathern  helm,  and  wrapped  himself  in  a 
quilted  escaupil ;  each  buckled  the  shield  on  his  arm,  and 
tightened  the  thongs  of  his  sandals.  Their  arms  lay  at 
hand. 

Such  were  the  preparations  for  the  combat,  such  the 
combatants.  And  as  the  foemen  faced  each  other,  awaiting 
the  signal  for  the  mortal  strife,  I  fancy  no  Christian  has 
seen  anything  more  beautiful  than  the  theatre.  Among  the 
faces  the  gaze  swam  as  in  a  sea ;  the  gleaming  of  arms  and 
ornaments  was  bewildering ;  while  the  diversity  of  colors  in 
the  costumes  of  the  vast  audience  was  without  comparison. 
With  the  exception  of  the  arena,  the  royal  platform  was 
the  cynosure.  Behind  the  king,  with  a  shield  faced  with 
silver,  stood  Maxtla,  vigilant  against  treachery  or  despair. 
The  array  of  nobles  about  the  couch  was  imperial ;  and 
what  with  them,  and  the  dark-eyed  beauties  of  his  house- 
haid,  and  the  canopy  tingeing  the  air  and  softly  undulating 
above  him,  and  the  mighty  congregation  of  siibjects  at  his 
feet,  it  was  with  Montezuma  like  a  revival  of  the  glory  of 
the  Hystaspes.  Yet  the  presence  of  his  power  but  increased 
his  gloom  ;  in  a  short  time  he  heard  no  music  and  saw  no 
splendor ;  everything  reminded  him  of  the  last  picture  on 
the  western  wall  of  the  golden  chamber. 


THE   COMBAT.  59 


CHAPTER  XL 

THE    COMBAT. 

fTlHE  champions  for  the  god  drew  themselves  up  in  the 
J_  west,  while  their  challengers  occupied  the  east  of  the 
arena.  This  position  of  parties  was  the  subject  of  much 
speculation  with  the  spectators,  who  saw  it  might  prove  a 
point  of  great  importance  if  the  engagement  assumed  the 
form  of  single  combats. 

Considering  age  and  appearance,  the  Tlascalans  were  ad 
judged  most  dangerous  of  the  challengers,  —  a  palm  readily 
awarded  to  the  Tezcucan  and  the  'tzin  on  their  side.  The 
common  opinion  held  also,  that  the  Cholulan,  the  youngest 
and  least  experienced  of  the  Aztecs,  should  have  been  the 
antagonist  of  the  elder  Othmi,  whose  vigor  was  presumed 
to  be  affected  by  his  age  ;  as  it  was,  that  combat  belonged  to 
Tlahua,  the  Otompan,  while  the  younger  Othmi  confronted 
the  Cholulan. 

And  now  the  theatre  grew  profoundly  still  with  expec 
tancy. 

"  The  day  grows  old.  Let  the  signal  be  given."  And  so 
saying,  the  king  waved  his  hand,  and  sunk  indolently  back 
upon  his  couch. 

A  moment  after  there  was  a  burst  of  martial  symphony, 
and  the  combat  began. 

It  was  opened  with  arrows ;  and  to  determine,  if  possi 
ble,  the  comparative  skill  of  the  combatants,  the  spectators 
watched  the  commencement  with  closest  attention.  The 
younger  Othmi  sent  his  missile  straight  into  the  shield  of 
the  Cholulan,  who,  from  precipitation  probably,  was  not  so 
successful.  The  elder  Othmi  and  hi?  antagonist  each  planted 


60  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


his  arrow  fairly,  as  did  Iztlil'  and  the  Tlascalans.  But  a 
great  outcry  of  applause  attended  Guatamozin,  when  his 
bolt,  flying  across  the  space,  buried  its  barb  in  the  crest  of 
his  adversary.  A  score  of  feathers,  shorn  away,  floated 
slowly  to  the  sand. 

"  It  was  well  done ;  by  Our  Mother,  it  was  well  done  !" 
» murmured  Hualpa. 

"  Wait !  "  said  the  Chalcan  patronizingly.  "  "Wait  till 
they  come  to  the  maquahmtl !  " 

Quite  a  number  of  arrows  were  thus  interchanged  by  the 
parties  without  effect,  as  they  were  always  dexterously  inter 
cepted.  The  passage  was  but  the  preluding  skirmish,  partici 
pated  in  by  all  but  the  'tzin,  who,  after  his  first  shot,  stood 
a  little  apart  from  his  comrades,  and,  resting  his  long  bow 
on  the  ground,  watched  the  trial  with  apparent  indifference. 
Like  the  Chalcan,  he  seemed  to  regard  it  as  play  ;  and  the 
populace  after  a  while  fell  into  the  same  opinion  :  there  was 
not  enough  danger  to  fully  interest  them.  So  there  began  to 
arise  murmurs  and  cries,  which  the  Cholulan  was  the  first  to 
observe  and  interpret.  Under  an  impulse  which  had  rela 
tion,  probably,  to  his  first  failure,  he  resolved  to  avail  him 
self  of  the  growing  feeling.  Throwing  down  his  bow,  he 
seized  the  maquahmtl  at  his  back,  and,  without  a  word  to  his 
friends,  started  impetuously  across  the  arena.  The  peril  was 
great,  for  every  foeman  at  once  turned  his  arrow  against  him. 

Then  the  'tzin  stirred  himself.  "  The  boy  is  mad,  and  will 
die  if  we  do  not  go  with  him,"  he  said  ;  and  already  his 
foot  was  advanced  to  follow,  when  the  young  Othmi  sprang 
forward  from  the  other  side  to  meet  the  Cholulan. 

The  eagerness  lest  an  incident  should  be  lost  became 
intense  ;  even  the  king  sat  up  to  see  the  duel.  The  theatre 
rang  with  cries  of  encouragement,  —  none,  however,  so  cheery 
as  that  of  the  elder  Othmi,  whose  feelings  of  paternity  were, 
for  the  moment,  lost  in  his  passion  of  warrior. 


THE  COMBAT.  61 


"  On,  boy  !  Remember  the  green  hills,  and  the  hammock 
by  the  stream.  Strike  hard,  strike  hard  !  " 

The  combatants  were  apparently  well  matched,  being 
about  equal  in  height  and  age  ;  both  brandished  the  maqua- 
huitl,  the  deadliest  weapon  known  to  their  wars.  Wielded 
by  both  hands  and  swung  high  above  the  head,  its  blades 
of  glass  generally  clove  their  way  to  the  life.  About  mid 
way  the  arena  the  foemen  met.  At  the  instant  of  contact 
the  Cholulan  brought  a  downward  blow,  well  aimed,  at  the 
head  of  his  antagonist ;  but  the  lithe  Othmi,  though  at 
full  speed,  swerved  like  a  bird  on  the  wing.  A  great 
shout  attested  the  appreciation  of  the  audience.  The  Cho 
lulan  wheeled,  with  his  weapon  uplifted  for  another  blow ; 
the  action  called  his  left  arm  into  play,  and  drew  his  shield 
from  its  guard.  The  Othmi  saw  the  advantage.  One  step 
he  took  nearer,  and  then,  with  a  sweep  of  his  arm  and  an 
upward  stroke,  he  drove  every  blade  deep  into  the  side  of 
his  enemy.  The  lifted  weapon  dropped  in  its  half-finished 
circle,  the  shield  flew  wildly  up,  and,  with  a  groan,  the  vic 
tim  fell  heavily  to  the  sand,  struggled  once  to  rise,  fell 
back  again,  and  his  battles  were  ended  forever.  A  cry  of 
anguish  went  out  from  under  the  royal  canopy. 

"  Hark  !  "  cried  Xoli.  "  Did  you  hear  the  old  Cholulan  1 
See  !  They  are  leading  him  from  the  platform  !  " 

Except  that  cry,  however,  not  a  voice  was  heard ;  from 
rising  apprehension  as  to  the  result  of  the  combat,  or  touched 
by  a  passing  sympathy  for  the  early  death,  the  multitude  was 
perfectly  hushed. 

"  That  was  a  brave  blow,  Xoli ;  but  let  him  beware  now  ! " 
^aid  Hualpa,  excitedly. 

And  in  expectation  of  instant  vengeance,  all  eyes  watched 
3  Othmi.  Around  the  arena  he  glanced,  then  back  to  his 
ends.  Retreat  would  forfeit  the  honor  gained  :  death 
5  preferable.  So  he  knelt  upon  the  breast  of  his  enemy, 


62  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


and,  setting  his  shield  before  him,  waited  sternly  and  in 
silence  the  result.  And  IztliT  and  Tlahua  launched  their 
arrows  at  him  in  quick  succession,  but  Guatamozin  was  as 
indifferent  as  ever. 

"  What  ails  the  'tzin  ?  "  said  Maxtla  to  the  king.  "  The 
Othmi  is  at  his  mercy." 

The  monarch  deigned  no  reply. 

The  spirit  of  the  old  Othmi  rose.  On  the  sand  behind 
him,  prepared  for  service,  was  a  dart  with  three  points  of 
copper,  and  a  long  cord  by  which  to  recover  it  when  once 
thrown.  Catching  the  weapon  up,  and  shouting,  "  I  am  com 
ing,  I  am  coming ! "  he  ran  to  avert  or  share  the  danger. 
The  space  to  be  crossed  was  inconsiderable,  yet  such  his 
animation  that,  as  he  ran,  he  poised  the  dart,  and  exposed 
his  hand  above  the  shield.  The  'tzin  raised  his  bow,  and 
let  the  arrow  fly.  It  struck  right  amongst  the  supple  joints 
of  the  veteran's  wrist.  The  unhappy  man  stopped  bewil 
dered  ;  over  the  theatre  he  looked,  then  at  the  wound ;  in 
despair  he  tore  the  shaft  out  with  his  teeth,  and  rushed  on 
till  he  reached  the  boy. 

The  outburst  of  acclamation  shook  the  theatre. 

"  To  have  seen  such  archery,  Xoli,  were  worth  all  the  years 
of  a  hunter's  life ! "  said  Hualpa. 

The  Chalcan  smiled  like  a  connoisseur,  and  replied,  "  It  is 
nothing.  Wait ! " 

And  now  the  combat  again  presented  a  show  of  equality. 
The  advantage,  if  there  was  any,  was  thought  to  be  with  the 
Aztecs,  since  the  loss  of  the  Cholulan  was  not  to  be  weighed 
against  the  disability  of  the  Othmi.  Thus  the  populace  were 
released  from  apprehension,  without  any  abatement  of  in 
terest;  indeed,  the  excitement  increased,  for  there  was  a 
promise  of  change  in  the  character  of  the  contest ;  from 
quiet  archery  was  growing  bloody  action. 

The  Tlascalans,  alive  to  the  necessity  of  supporting  their 


THE  COMBAT.  63 


friends,  advanced  to  where  the  Cholulan  lay,  but  more  cau 
tiously.  When  they  were  come  up,  the  Othmies  both  arose, 
and  calmly  perfected  the  front.  The  astonishment  at  this 
was  very  great. 

"  Brave  fellow !  He  is  worth  ten  live  Cholulans  !  "  said 
Xoli.  "  But  now  look,  boy  !  The  challengers  have  advanced 
half-way  ;  the  Aztecs  must  meet  them." 

The  conjecture  was  speedily  verified.  Iztlil'  had,  in  fact, 
ill  brooked  the  superior  skill,  or  better  fortune,  of  the  'tzin  ; 
the  applause  of  the  populace  had  been  worse  than  wounds  to 
his  jealous  heart.  Till  this  time,  however,  he  had  restrained 
his  passion ;  now  the  foe  were  ranged  as  if  challenging  attack  : 
he  threw  away  his  useless  bow,  and  laid  his  hand  on  his 
maquahuitl. 

"  It  is  not  for  an  Aztec  god  that  we  are  fighting,  0  com 
rade  !  "  he  cried  to  Tlahua.  "  It  is  for  ourselves.  Come,  let 
us  show  yon  king  a  better  war  !  " 

And  without  waiting,  he  set  on.  The  Otompan  followed, 
leaving  the  'tzin  alone.  The  call  had  not  been  to  him,  and 
as  he  was  fighting  for  the  god,  and  the  Tezcucan  for  himself, 
he  merely  placed  another  arrow  on  his  bow,  and  observed  the 
attack. 

Leaving  the  Otompan  to  engage  the  Othmies,  the  fierce 
Tezcucan  assaulted  the  Tlascalans,  an  encounter  in  which 
there  was  no  equality ;  but  the  eyes  of  Tenochtitlan  were 
upon  him,  and  at  his  back  was  a  hated  rival.  His  antago 
nists  each  sent  an  arrow  to  meet  him ;  but,  as  he  skilfully 
caught  them  on  his  shield,  they,  too,  betook  themselves  to 
the  maquahuitl.  Right  on  he  kept,  until  his  shield  struck 
theirs ;  it  was  gallantly  done,  and  won  a  furious  outburst 
from  the  people.  Again  Montezuma  sat  up,  momentarily 
animated. 

"  Ah,  my  lord  Cacama  !  "  he  said,  "  if  your  brother's  lov» 
were  but  equal  to  his  courage,  I  would  give  him  an  army." 


64  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  All  the  gods  forfend  !  "  replied  the  jealous  prince.  "  The 
viper  would  recover  his  fangs." 

The  speed  with  which  he  Avent  was  all  that  saved  Iztlil' 
from  the  blades  of  the  Tlascalans.  Striking  no  blow  himself, 
he  strove  to  make  way  between  them,  and  get  behind, 
so  that,  facing  about  to  repel  his  returning  onset,  their 
backs  would  be  to  the  'tzin.  But  they  were  wary,  and  did 
not  yield.  As  they  pushed  against  him,  one,  dropping  his 
more  cumbrous  weapon,  struck  him  in  the  breast  with  a  cop 
per  knife.  The  blow  was  distinctly  seen  by  the  spectators. 

Hualpa  started  from  his  seat.  "  He  has  it ;  they  will 
finish  him  now !  No,  he  recovers.  Our  Mother,  what  a 
blow ! " 

The  Tezcucan  disengaged  himself,  and,  maddened  by  the 
blood  that  began  to  flow  down  his  quilted  armor,  as 
saulted  furiously.  He  was  strong,  quick  of  eye,  and  skil 
ful  ;  the  blades  of  his  weapon  gleamed  in  circles  around 
his  head,  and  resounded  against  the  shields.  At  length  a 
desperate  blow  beat  down  the  guard  of  one  of  the  Tlascalans ; 
ere  it  could  be  recovered,  or  Iztlil'  avail  himself  of  the  advan 
tage,  there  came  a  sharp  whirring  through  the  air,  and  an 
arrow  from  the  'tzin  pierced  to  the  warrior's  heart.  Up  he 
leaped,  dead  before  he  touched  the  sand.  Again  Iztlil'  heard 
the  acclamation  of  his  rival.  "Without  a  pause,  he  rushed 
upon  the  surviving  Tlascalan,  as  if  to  bear  him  down  by 
stormy  dint. 

Meantime,  the  combat  of  Tlahua,  the  Otompan,  was  not 
without  its  difficulties,  since  it  was  not  singly  with  the  young 
Othmi. 

"  Mictlan  take  the  old  man  !  "  cried  the  lord  Cuitlahua, 
bending  from  his  seat.  "  I  thought  him  done  for ;  but,  see ! 
he  defends,  the  other  fights." 

And  so  it  was.  The  Otornpan  struck  hard,  but  was  dis 
tracted  by  the  tactics  of  his  foemen :  if  he  aimed  at  the 


THE  COMBAT.  65 


younger,  both  their  shields  warded  the  blow  ;  if  he  assaulted 
the  elder,  he  was  in  turn  attacked  by  the  younger ;  and  so, 
without  advantage  to  either,  their  strife  continued  until  the 
fall  of  the  Tlascalan.  Then,  inspired  by  despairing  valor, 
the  boy  threw  down  his  maquahuitl,  and  endeavored  to  push 
aside  the  Otompan's  shield.  Once  within  its  guard,  the 
knife  would  finish  the  contest.  Tlahua  retreated ;  but  the 
foe  clung  to  him,  —  one  wrenching  at  his  shield,  the  other  in 
tercepting  his  blows,  and  both  carefully  avoiding  the  deadly 
archery  of  the  'tzin,  who,  seeing  the  extremity  of  the  danger, 
started  to  the  rescue.  All  the  people  shouted,  "  The  'tzin, 
the  'tzin  !  "  Xoli  burst  into  ecstasy,  and  clapped  his  hands. 
"  There  he  goes  !  Now  look  for  something !  " 

The  rescuer  went  as  a  swift  wind ;  but  the  clamor  had 
been  as  a  warning  to  the  young  Othmi.  By  a  great  effort  he 
tore  away  the  Otompan's  shield.  In  vain  the  latter  struggled. 
There  was  a  flash,  sharp,  vivid,  like  the  sparkle  of  the  sun 
upon  restless  waters.  Then  his  head  drooped  forward, 
and  he  staggered  blindly.  Once  only  the  death-stroke  was 
repeated  ;  and  so  still  was  the  multitude  that  the  dull  sound 
of  the  knife  driving  home  was  heard.  The  'tzin  was  too 
late. 

The  prospect  for  the  Aztecs  was  now  gloomy.  The  Cholu- 
lan  and  Otompan  were  dead  ;  the  Tezcucan,  wounded  and 
bleeding,  was  engaged  in  a  doubtful  struggle  with  the  Tlas 
calan  ;  the  'tzin  was  the  last  hope  of  his  party.  Upon  him 
devolved  the  fight  with  the  Othmies.  In  the  interest  thus 
excited  Iztlil's  battle  was  forgotten. 

Twice  had  the  younger  Othmi  been  victor,  and  still  he  was 
scathless.  Instead  of  the  maquahuitl,  he  was  now  armed 
with  the  javelin,  which,  while  effective  as  a  dart,  was  excel 
lent  to  repel  assault. 

From  the  crowded  seats  of  the  theatre  not  a  sound  was 
heard.  At  no  time  had  the  excitement  risen  to  such  a  pitch. 

£ 


66  THE   FAIR   GOD. 


Breathless  and  motionless,  the  spectators  awaited  the  advance 
of  the  'tzin.  He  was,  as  I  have  said,  a  general  favorite,  be 
loved  by  priest  and  citizen,  and  with  the  wild  soldiery  an 
object  of  rude  idolatry.  And  if,  under  the  royal  canopy 
there  were  eyes  that  looked  not  lovingly  upon  him,  there 
were  lips  there  murmuring  soft  words  of  prayer  for  his 
success. 

When  within  a  few  steps  of  the  waiting  Othmies,  he 
halted.  They  glared  at  him  an  instant  in  silence ;  then  the 
old  chief  said  tauntingly,  and  loud  enough  to  be  heard  above 
the  noise  of  the  conflict  at  his  side,  — 

"  A  woman  may  wield  a  bow,  and  from  a  distance  slay  a 
warrior ;  but  the  maquahuifl  is  heavy  in  the  hand  of  the 
coward,  looking  in  the  face  of  his  foeman." 

The  Aztec  made  no  answer ;  he  was  familiar  with  the 
wile.  Looking  at  the  speaker  as  if  against  him  he  intended 
his  first  attack,  with  right  hand  back  he  swung  the  heavy 
weapon  above  his  shoulder  till  it  sung  in  quickening  circles ; 
when  its  force  was  fully  collected,  he  suddenly  hurled  it 
from  him.  The  old  Othmi  crouched  low  behind  his  shield  : 
but  his  was  not  the  form  in  the  'tzin's  eyes  ;  for  right  in  the 
centre  of  the  young  victor's  guard  the  flying  danger  struck. 
Jfor  arm  nor  shield  might  bar  its  way.  The  boy  was  lifted 
sheer  above  the  body  of  the  Otompan,  and  driven  backward 
as  if  shot  from  a  catapult. 

Guatamozin  advanced  no  further.  A  thrust  of  his  javelin 
would  have  disposed  of  the  old  Othmi,  now  unarmed  and  help 
less.  The  acclamation  of  the  audience,  in  which  was  blent 
the  shrill  voices  of  women,  failed  to  arouse  his  passion. 

The  sturdy  chief  arose  from  his  crouching ;  he  looked  for  the 
boy  to  whom  he  had  so  lately  spoken  of  home  ;  he  saw  him 
lying  outstretched,  his  face  in  the  sand,  and  his  shield,  so 
often  bound  with  wreaths  and  garlands,  twain-broken  beneath 
him ;  and  his  will,  that  in  the  fight  had  been  tougher  than 


THE  COMBAT.  67 


the  gold  of  his  bracelets,  gave  way  ;  forgetful  of  all  else, 
he  ran,  and,  with  a  great  cry,  threw  himself  upon  the  body. 

The  Chalcan  was  as  exultant  as  if  the  achievement  had 
been  his  own.  Even  the  prouder  souls  under  the  red  canopy 
yielded  their  tardy  praise ;  only  the  king  was  silent. 

As  none  now  remained  of  the  challengers  but  the  Tlascalan 
occupied  with  Iztlil',  —  none  whom  he  might  in  honor  engage, 
—  Guatamozin  moved  away  from  the  Othmies  ;  and  as  he 
went,  once  he  allowed  his  glance  to  wander  to  the  royal  plat 
form,  but  with  thought  of  love,  not  wrong. 

The  attention  of  the  people  was  again  directed  to  the 
combat  of  the  Tezcucan.  The  death  of  his  comrades  nowise 
daunted  the  Tlascalan;  he  rather  struck  the  harder  for 
revenge ;  his  shield  was  racked,  the  feathers  in  his  crest 
torn  away,  while  the  blades  were  red  with  his  blood.  Still 
it  fared  but  ill  with  Iztlil'  fighting  for  himself.  His  wound 
in  the  breast  bled  freely,  and  his  equipments  were  in  no  bet 
ter  plight  than  his  antagonist's.  The  struggle  was  that  of 
the  hewing  and  hacking  which,  whether  giving  or  taking, 
soon  exhausts  the  strongest  frame.  At  last,  faint  with  loss 
of  blood,  he  went  down.  The  Tlascalan  attempted  to  strike 
a  final  blow,  but  darkness  rushed  upon  him ;  he  staggered, 
the  blades  sunk  into  the  sand,  and  he  rolled  beside  his 
enemy. 

With  that  the  combat  was  done.  The  challengers  might 
not  behold  their  "  land  of  bread "  again ;  nevermore  for 
them  was  hammock  by  the  stream  or  echo  of  tambour 
amongst  the  hills. 

And  all  the  multitude  arose  and  gave  way  to  their  rejoic 
ing  ;  they  embraced  each  other,  and  shouted  and  sang ;  the 
pabas  waved  their  ensigns,  and  the  soldiers  saluted  with 
voice  and  pealing  shells  ;  and  up  to  the  sun  ascended  the 
name  of  Quetzal'  with  form  and  circumstance  to  soften  the 
mood  of  the  most  demanding  god;  but  all  th«  time  the 


68  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


audience  saw  only  the  fortunate  hero,  standing  so  calmly  before 
them,  the  dead  at  his  feet,  and  the  golden  light  about  him. 

And  the  king  was  happy  as  the  rest,  and  talked  gayly, 
caring  little  for  the  living  or  the  dead.  The  combat  was 
over,  and  Quetzal'  not  come.  Mualox  was  a  madman,  not 
a  prophet;  the  Aztecs  had  won,  and  the  god  was  propiti 
ated  :  so  the  questioner  of  the  Morning  flattered  himself ! 

"  If  the  Othmi  cannot  fight,  he  can  serve  for  sacrifice. 
Let  him  be  removed.  And  the  dead  —  But  hold  !  "  he  cried, 
and  his  cheeks  blanched  with  mortal  pallor.  "  Who  comes 
yonder  1  Look  to  the  arena,  —  nay,  to  the  people  !  By 
my  father's  ashes,  the  paba  shall  perish  !  White  hairs  and 
prophet's  gifts  shall  not  save  him." 

While  the  king  was  speaking,  Mualox,  the  keeper  of  the 
temple,  rushed  within  the  wall  of  shields.  His  dress  was 
disordered,  and  he  was  bareheaded  and  unsandalled.  Over 
his  shoulders  and  down  his  breast  flowed  his  hair  and  beard, 
tangled  and  unkempt,  wavy  as  a  billow  and  white  as  the 
foam.  Excitement  flashed  from  every  feature ;  and  far  as 
his  vision  ranged,  —  in  every  quarter,  on  every  platform,  — 
in  the  blood  of  others  he  kindled  his  own  unwonted  passion. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

MUALOX    AND    HIS   WORLD. 

MUALOX,  after  the  departure  of  the  king  and  'tzin, 
ascended  the  tower  of  the  old  Cu,  and  remained  there 
all  night,  stooped  beside  the  sacred  fire,  sorrowing  and  dream 
ing,  hearkening  to  the  voices  of  the  city,  or  watching  the  mild- 
eyed  stars.  So  the  morning  found  him.  He,  too,  beheld 
the  coming  of  the  sun,  and  trembled  when  the.  Smoking  Hill 


MUALOX  AND  HIS  WOULD.  69 


•sent  up  its  cloud.  Then  he  heaped  fresh  fagots  on  the 
dying  fire,  and  went  down  to  the  court-yard.  It  was  the 
hour  when  in  all  the  other  temples  worshippers  came  to  pray. 

He  took  a  lighted  lamp  from  a  table  in  his  cell,  and  fol 
lowed  a  passage  on  deeper  into  the  building.  The  way,  like 
that  to  the  golden  chamber,  was  intricate  and  bewildering. 
Before  a  door  at  the  foot  of  a  flight  of  steps  he  stopped.  A 
number  of  earthen  jars  and  ovens  stood  near ;  while  from 
the  room  to  which  the  door  gave  entrance  there  came  a  strong, 
savory  perfume,  very  gratefvd  to  the  sense  of  a  hungry  man. 
Here  was  the  kitchen  of  the  ancient  house.  The  paba 
went  in. 

This  was  on  a  level  with  the  water  of  the  canal  at  the 
south  base  ;  and  when  the  good  man  came  out,  and  descended 
another  stairway,  he  was  in  a  hall,  which,  though  below  the 
canal,  was  dusty  and  perfectly  dry.  Down  the  hall  further 
he  came  to  a  doorway  in  the  floor,  or  rather  an  aperture, 
which  had  at  one  time  been  covered  and  hidden  by  a  pon 
derous  flag-stone  yet  lying  close  by.  A  rope  ladder  was  coiled 
up  on  the  stone.  Flinging  the  ladder  through  the  door,  he 
heard  it  rattle  on  the  floor  beneath ;  then  he  stooped,  and 
called,  — 

"  Tecetl,  Tecetl ! " 

IS"o  one  replied.     He  repeated  the  call. 

"  Poor  child  !  She  is  asleep,"  he  said,  in  a  low  voice. 
"  I  will  go  down  without  her." 

Leaving  the  lamp  above,  he  committed  himself  to  the 
unsteady  rope,  like  one  accustomed  to  it.  Below  all  was 
darkness  ;  but,  pushing  boldly  on,  he  suddenly  flung  aside  a 
curtain  which  had  small  silver  bells  in  the  fringing ;  and, 
ushered  by  the  tiny  ringing,  he  stepped  into  a  chamber 
lighted  and  full  of  beauty,  —  a  grotto  carven  with  infinite 
labor  from  the  bed-rock  of  the  lake. 

And  here,  in  the  day  mourned  by  the  paba,  when  the 


70  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

temple  was  honored,  and  its  god  had  worshippers,  and 
the  name  of  Quetzal'  was  second  to  no  other,  not  even 
Huitzil's,  must  have  been  held  the  secret  conclaves  of 
the  priesthood,  —  so  great  were  the  dimensions  of  the  cham 
ber,  and  so  far  was  it  below  the  roll  of  waters.  But  now  it 
might  be  a  place  for  dwelling,  or  for  thought  and  dreaming, 
or  for  pleasure,  or  in  which  the  eaters  of  the  African  lotus 
might  spend  their  hours  and  days  of  semi-consciousness 
sounding  of  a  life  earthly  yet  purely  spiritual.  There  were 
long  aisles  for  walking,  and  couches  for  rest ;  there  were 
pictures,  flowers,  and  a  fountain ;  the  walls  and  ceiling 
glowed  with  frescoing ;  and  wherever  the  eye  turned  it  rested 
upon  some  cunning  device  intended  to  instruct,  gladden, 
comfort,  and  content.  Lamplight  streamed  into  every  corner, 
ill  supplying  the  perfect  sunshine,  yet  serving  its  grand  pur 
pose.  The  effect  was  more  than  beautiful.  The  world  above 
was  counterfeited,  so  that  one  ignorant  of  the  original  and 
dwelling  in  the  counterfeit  could  have  been  happy  all  his 
life  long.  Scarcely  is  it  too  much  to  say  of  the  master  who 
designed  and  finished  the  grotto,  that,  could  he  have  borrowed 
the  materials  of  nature,  he  had  the  taste  and  genius  to  set  a 
star  with  the  variety  and  harmony  that  mark  the  setting  of 
the  earth's  surface,  and  of  themselves  prove  its  Creator 
divine. 

In  the  enchantment  of  the  place  there  was  a  peculiarity 
indicative  of  a  purpose  higher  than  mere  enjoyment,  and 
that  was  the  total  absence  of  humanity  in  the  host  of  things 
visible.  Painted  on  the  ceiling  and  walls  were  animals  of 
almost  every  kind  common  to  the  clime  ;  birds  of  wondrous 
plumage  darted  hither  and  thither,  twittering  and  singing ; 
there,  also,  were  flowers  the  fairest  and  most  fragrant,  and 
orange  and  laurel  shrubs,  and  pines  and  cedars  and  oaks,  and 
other  trees  of  the  forest,  dwarfed,  and  arranged  for  conven 
ient  carriage  to  the  azoteas;  in  the  pictures,  moreover,  were 


MUALOX  AND  HIS  WORLD.  71 

the  objects  most  remarkable  in  the  face  of  nature,  —  rivers, 
woods,  plains,  mountains,  oceans,  the  heavens  in  storm  and 
calm  ;  but  nowhere  was  the  picture  of  man,  woman,  or  child. 
In  the  frescoing  were  houses  and  temples,  grouped  as  in 
hamlets  and  cities,  or  standing  alone  on  a  river's  bank,  or  in 
the  shadow  of  great  trees ;  but  of  their  habitants  and  build 
ers  there  was  not  a  trace.  In  fine,  the  knowledge  there 
taught  was  that  of  a  singular  book.  A  mind  receiving  im 
pressions,  like  a  child's,  would  be  carried  by  it  far  enough 
in  the  progressive  education  of  life  to  form  vivid  ideas  of  the 
world,  and  yet  be  left  in  a  dream  of  unintelligence  to  people 
it  with  fairies,  angels,  or  gods.  Almost  everything  had  there 
a  representation  but  humanity,  the  brightest  fallen  nature. 

Mualox  entered  as  one  habituated  to  the  chamber.  The 
air  was  soft,  balmy,  and  pleasant,  and  the  illumination  mel 
lowed,  as  if  the  morning  were  shut  out  hy  curtains  of  gos 
samer  tinted  with  roses  and  gold.  Near  the  centre  of  the 
room  he  came  to  a  fountain  of  water  crystal  clear  and  in  full 
play,  the  jet  shooting  from  a  sculptured  stone  up  almost  to 
the  ceiling.  Around  it  were  tables,  ottomans,  couches,  and 
things  of  vertu,  such  as  would  have  adorned  the  palace  ; 
there,  also,  were  vases  of  flowers,  culled  and  growing,  and  of 
such  color  and  perfume  as  would  have  been  estimable  in 
Cholula,  and  musical  instrument,  and  pencils  and  paints. 

It  was  hardly  possible  that  this  conception,  so  like  the 
Eestful  World  of  Brahma,  should  be  without  its  angel ;  for 
the  atmosphere  and  all  were  for  a  spirit  of  earth  or  heaven 
softer  than  man's.  And  hy  the  fountain  it  was,  —  a  soul 
fresh  and  pure  as  the  laughing  water. 

The  girl  of  whom  I  speak  was  asleep.  Her  head  lay 
upon  a  cushion  ;  over  the  face,  clear  and  almost  white,  shone 
a  lambent  transparency,  which  might  have  "been  the  reflec 
tion  of  the  sparkling  water.  The  garments  gathered  close 
about  her  did  not  conceal  the  delicacy  and  childlike  grace 


72  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


of  her  form.  One  foot  was  exposed,  and  it  was  bare,  small, 
and  nearly  lost  in  the  tufted  mattress  of  her  couch.  Under 
a  profusion  of  dark  hair,  covering  the  cushion  like  the  floss 
of  silk,  lay  an  arm ;  a  hand,  dimpled  and  soft,  rested  lightly 
on  her  breast.  The  slumber  was  very  deep,  giving  the  face 
the  expression  of  dreamless  repose,  with  the  promise  of, 
health  and  happiness  upon  waking. 

The  paba  approached  her  tenderly,  and  knelt  down.  His 
face  was  full  of  holy  affection.  He  bent  his  cheek  close  to 
her  parted  lips,  listening  to  her  breathing.  He  brought  the 
straying  locks  back,  and  laid  them  across  her  neck.  ISTow 
and  then  a  bird  came  and  lighted  on  the  table,  and  he  waved 
his  mantle  to  scare  it  away.  And  when  the  voice  of  the 
fountain  seemed,  under  an  increased  pulsation  of  the  water, 
to  grow  louder,  he  looked  around,  frowning  lest  it  might  dis 
turb  her.  She  slept  on,  his  love  about  her  like  a  silent  prayer 
that  has  found  its  consummation  in  perfect  peace. 

And  as  he  knelt,  he  became  sad  and  thoughtful.  The 
events  that  were  to  come,  and  his  faith  in  their  coming, 
were  as  actual  sorrows.  His  reflections  were  like  a  plea  ad 
dressed  to  his  conscience. 

"  God  pardon  me,  if,  after  all,  I  should  be  mistaken  !  The 
wrong  would  be  so  very  great  as  to  bar  me  from  the  Sun. 
Is  any  vanity  like  that  which  makes  sorrows  for  our  fellows  ? 
And  such  is  not  only  the  vanity  of  the  warrior,  and  that  of 
the  ruler  of  tribes  ;  sometimes  it  is  of  the  priests  who  go 
into  the  temples  thinking  of  things  that  do  not  pertain  to 
the  gods.  What  if  mine  were  such  1 

"  The  holy  Quetzal'  knows  that  I  intended  to  be  kind  to 
the  child.  I  thought  my  knowledge  greater  than  that  of 
ordinary  mortals  ;  I  thought  it  moved  in  fields  where  only 
the  gods  walk,  sowing  wisdom.  The  same  vanity,  taking 
words,  told  me,  '  Look  up  !  There  is  no  abyss  between  you 
and  the  gods  ;  they  eannot  make  themselves  of  the  dust, 


MUALOX  AND  HIS  WORLD.  73 

but  you  can  reach  their  summit  almost  a  god.'  And  I 
labored,  seeking  the  principles  that  would  accomplish  my 
dream,  if  such  it  were.  Heaven  forgive  me,  but  I  once 
thought  I  had  found  them !  Other  men  looking  out  on 
creation  could  see  nothing  but  Wisdom  —  Wisdom  every 
where  ;  but  I  looked  with  a  stronger  vision,  and  wherever 
there  was  a  trace  of  infinite  WISDOM,  there  was  also  for  me 
an  infinite  WILL. 

"  Here  were  the  principles,  but  they  were  not  enough. 
Something  said  to  me,  '  What  were  the  Wisdom  and  Will 
of  the  gods  without  subjects  1 '  It  was  a  great  idea  :  I 
thought  I  stood  almost  upon  the  summit ! 

"  And  I  set  about  building  me  a  world.  I  took  the  treas 
ure  of  Quetzal',  and  collected  these  marvels,  and  bought  me 
the  labor  of  art.  Weavers,  florists,  painters,  masons,  —  all 
toiled  for  me.  Gold,  labor,  and  time  are  here,  —  there  is 
little  beauty  without  them.  Here  is  my  world,"  he  said 
aloud,  glancing  around  the  great  hall. 

"  I  had  my  world  ;  next  I  wanted  a  subject  for  my  will. 
But  where  to  go  1  Not  among  men,  —  alas,-  they  are  their 
own  slaves !  One  day  I  stood  in  the  tianguez  where  a 
woman  was  being  sold.  A  baby  in  her  arms  smiled,  it 
might  have  been  at  the  sunshine,  it  might  have  been 
at  me.  The  mother  said,  'Buy.'  A  light  flashed  upon 
me  —  I  bought  you,  my  poor  child.  Men  say  of  the 
bud,  It  will  be  a  rose,  and  of  the  plant,  It  will  be  a 
tree ;  you  were  so  young  then  that  I  said,  '  It  will  be  a 
mind.'  And  into  my  world  I  brought  you,  thinking,  as  I 
had  made  it,  so  I  would  make  a  subject.  This,  I  told  you, 
was  your  birthplace  ;  ^,nd  here  passed  your  infancy  and 
childhood ;  here  you  have  dwelt.  Your  cheeks  are  pale,  my 
little  one,  but  full  and  fresh ;  your  breath  is  sweet  as  the  air 
above  a  garden  ;  and  you  have  grown  in  beauty,  knowing 
nothing  living  but  the  birds  and  me.  My  will  has  a  sub- 
4 


74  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


ject,  0  Tecetl,  and-  my  heart  a  child.  And  judge  me, 
holy  Quetzal',  if  I  have  not  tried  to  make  her  happy  !  I 
have  given  her  knowledge  of  everything  but  humanity,  and 
ignorance  of  that  is  happiness.  My  world  has  thus  far  been  a 
heaven  to  her ;  her  dreams  have  been  of  it ;  I  am  its  god ! " 
'  And  yet  unwilling  to  disturb  her  slumber,  Mualox  arose, 
and  walked  away. 


CHAPTER 

THE   SEARCH   FOR   QUETZAL*. 

r~ 

BY  and  by  he  returned,  and  standing  by  the  couch, 
passed  his  hand  several  times  above  her  face.  Silent 
as  the  movements  were,  she  awoke,  and  threw  her  arms 
around  his  neck. 

"  You  have  been  gone  a  long  while,"  she  said,  in  a  child 
ish  voice.  "  I  waited  for  you ;  but  the  lamps  burned  down 
low,  and  the  shadows,  from  their  hiding  among  the  bushes, 
came  creeping  in  upon  the  fountain,  and  I  slept." 

"  I  saw  you,"  he  answered,  playing  with  her  hair.  "  I 
saw  you;  I  always  see  you." 

"  I  tried  to  paint  the  fountain,"  she  went  on ;  "  but  when 
I  watched  the  water  to  catch  its  colors,  I  thought  its  singing 
changed  to  voices,  and,  listening  to  them,  they  stole  my 
thoughts  away.  Then  I  tried  to  blend  my  voice  with  them, 
and  sing  as  they  sung ;  but  whenever  mine  sank  low  enough, 
it  seemed  sad,  while  they  went  on  gayer  and  more  ringing 
than  ever.  I  can  paint  the  flowers,  but  not  the  water ;  1 
can  sing  with  the  birds,  but  not  with  the  fountain.  But  you 
promised  to  call  me,  —  that  you  would  always  call  me." 

"  I  knew  you  were  asleep." 

"  But  you  had  only  to  think  to  waken  me," 


THE  SEARCH  FOR  QUETZAL'.  75 

He  smiled  at  this  acknowledgment  of  the  power  of  his 
will.  Just  then  a  "bell  sounded  faintly  through  the  chamber ; 
hastening  away,  he  shortly  returned  with  breakfast  on  a  great 
shell  waiter ;  there  were  maize  bread  and  honey,  quails  and 
chocolate,  figs  and  oranges.  Placing  them  on  a  table,  he 
rolled  up  an  ottoman  for  the  girl ;  and,  though  she  talked 
much  and  lightly,  the  meal  was  soon  over.  Then  he  com 
posed  himself  upon  the  couch,  and  in  the  quiet,  unbroken 
save  by  Tecetl,  forgot  the  night  and  its  incidents. 

His  rest  was  calm  ;  when  he  awoke,  she  was  sitting  by  the 
basin  of  the  fountain  talking  to  her  birds  gleefully  as  a  child. 
She  had  given  them  names,  words  more  of  sound  pleasant  to 
the  oar  than  of  signification  ;  so  she  understood  the  birds, 
whose  varied  cries  were  to  her  a  language.  And  they  were 
fearless  and  tame,  perching  on  her  hand,  and  courting  her 
caresses  ;  while  she  was  as  artless,  with  a  knowledge  as  inno 
cent,  and  a  nature  as  happy.  If  Quetzal'  was  the  paba's  idol 
in  religion,  she  was  his  idol  in  affection. 

He  watched  her  awhile,  then  suddenly  sat  up  ;  though  he 
said  not  a  word,  she  flung  her  birds  off,  and  came  to  him 
smiling. 

"  You  called  me,  father." 

He  laid  his  hand  upon  her  shoulder,  all  overflowed  with  the 
dark  hair,  and  said  in  a  low  voice,  "  The  time  approaches 
when  Quetzal'  is  to  come  from  the  home  of  the  gods  ;  it  may 
be  he  is  near.  I  will  send  you  over  the  sea  and  the  land 
to  find  him  ;  you  shall  have  wings  to  carry  you  into  the  air ; 
and  you  shall  fly  swifter  than  the  birds  you  have  been  talk 
ing  to." 

Her  smile  deepened. 

"  Have  you  not  told  me  that  Quetzal'  is  good,  and  that  his 
voice  is  like  the  fountain's,  and  that  when  he  speaks  it  is  like 
singing?  I  am  ready." 

He  kissed  her,  and  nearer  the  basin  rolled  the  couch,  upon 


76  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


which  she  sat  reclined  against  a  heap  of  cushions,  her  hands 
clasped  over  her  breast. 

"  Do  not  let  me  be  long  gone  !  "  she  said.  "  The  lamps 
will  burn  low  again,  and  I  do  not  like  to  have  the  shadows 
come  and  fold  up  my  flowers." 

The  paba  took  a  pearl  from  the  folds  of  his  gown,  and  laid 
it  before  her  ;  then  he  sat  down,  and  fixed  his  eyes  upon  her 
face ;  she  looked  at  the  jewel,  and  composed  herself  as  for 
sleep.  Her  hands  settled  upon  her  bosom,  her  features  grew 
impassive,  the  lips  slowly  parted  ;  gradually  her  eyelids 
drooped,  and  the  life  running  in  the  veins  of  her  cheeks  and 
forehead  went  back  into  her  heart.  Out  of  the  pearl  seemed 
to  issue  a  spell  that  stole  upon  her  spirits  gently  as  an  atomy 
settles  through  the  still  air.  Finally,  there  was  a  sigh,  a  sob, 
and  over  the  soul  of  the  maiden  the  will  of  Mualox  became 
absolute.  He  took  her  hand  in  his. 

"  Wings  swifter  than  the  winds  are  yours,  Tecetl.  Go," 
he  said,  "  search  for  the  god  ;  search  the  land." 

She  moved  not,  and  scarcely  breathed. 

"  Speak,"  he  continued  ;  "  let  me  know  that  I  am  obeyed." 

The  will  was  absolute ;  she  spoke,  and  though  at  first  the 
words  came  slowly,  yet  he  listened  like  a  prophet  waiting  for 
revelation.  She  spoke  of  the  land,  of  its  rivers,  forests,  and 
mountains  ;  she  spoke  of  the  cities,  of  their  streets  and 
buildings,  and  of  their  people,  for  whom  she  kuew  no  name. 
She  spoke  of  events  transpiring  in  distant  provinces,  as  well 
as  in  Tenochtitlan.  She  went  into  the  temples,  markets, 
and  palaces.  Wherever  men  travelled,  thither  her  spirit  flew. 
When  the  flight  was  done,  and  her  broken  description  ceased, 
the  holy  man  sighed. 

"  Not  yet,  Tecetl ;  he  is  not  found.  The  god  is  not  on 
the  land.  Search  the  air." 

And  still  the  will  was  absolute,  though  the  theme  of  the 
changed  ;  it  was  not  of  the  land  now,  but  of  the  higher 


THE  SEARCH  FOR  QUETZAL'.  77 

realm  ;  she  spoke  of  the  sunshine  and  the  cloud,  of  the  wind 
rushing  and  chill,  of  the  earth  far  down,  and  grown  so  small 
that  the  mountains  levelled  with  the  plains. 

"  Not  yet,  not  yet,"  he  cried  ;  "  the  god  is  not  in  the  air. 
Go  search  the  sea  !  " 

In  the  hollow  of  his  hand  he  lifted  water,  and  sprinkled 
her  face  ;  and  when  he  resumed  his  seat  she  spoke,  not  slowly 
as  before,  but  fast  and  free. 

"  The  land  is  passed ;  behind  me  are  the  cities  and  lakes, 
and  the  great  houses  and  blue  waters,  such  as  I  have  seen  in 
my  pictures.  I  am  hovering  now,  father,  where  there  is 
nothing  before  me  but  waves  and  distance.  White  birds  go 
skimming  about  careless  of  the  foam  ;  the  winds  pour  upon 
me  steadily  ;  and  in  my  ear  is  a  sound  as  of  a  great  voice.  I 
listen,  and  it  is  the  sea  ;  or,  father,  it  may  be  the  voice  of  the 
god  whom  you  seek." 

She  was  silent,  as  if  waiting  for  an  answer. 

"  The  water,  is  it  ?    Well,  well,  —  whither  shaU  I  go  now?" 

"  Follow  the  shore  ;  it  may  lead  where  only  gods  have 
been." 

"  Still  the  waves  and  the  distance,  and  the  land,  where  it 
goes  down  into  the  sea  sprinkled  with  shells.  Still  the  deep 
voice  in  my  ear,  and  the  wind  about  me.  I  hurry  on,  but  it 
is  all  alike,  — -  all  water  and  sound.  No  !  Out  of  the  waves 
rises  a  new  land,  the  sea,  a  girdle  of  billows,  encircling  it 
everywhere  ;  yet  there  are  blue  clouds  ascending  from  the 
fields,  and  I  see  palm-trees  and  temples.  May  not  thy  god 
dwell  here  1 " 

"  No.     You  see  but  an  island.     On  !  " 

"  Well,  well.  Behind  me  fades  the  island  ;  before  me  is 
nothing  but  sheen  and  waves  and  distance  again ;  far  around 
runs  the  line  separating  the  sea  and  sky.  Waste,  all  waste  ; 
the  sea  all  green,  the  sky  all  blue ;  no  life ;  no  god.  But 
«tay ! " 


78  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Something  moves  on  the  waste  :  speak,  child  !  " 

But  for  a  time  she  was  still. 

"  Speak  ! "  he  said,  earnestly.     "  Speak,  Tecetl !  " 

"  They  are  far  off,  —  far  off,"  she  replied,  slowly  and  in  a 
doubting  way.  "  They  move  and  live,  but  I  cannot  tell 
whether  they  come  or  go,  or  what  they  are.  Their  course  is 
unsteady,  and,  like  the  flight  of  birds,  now  upon  the  sea, 
then  in  air,  a  moment  seeming  of  the  waves,  then  of  the  sky. 
They  look  like  white  clouds." 

"  You  are  fleeter  than  birds  or  clouds,  —  nearer  !  "  he  said, 
sternly,  the  fire  in  his  eyes  all  alight. 

"  I  go,  —  I  approach  them,  —  I  now  see  them  coming.  O 
father,  father !  I  know  not  what  your  god  is  like,  nor  what 
shape  he  takes,  nor  in  what  manner  he  travels  ;  but  surely 
these  are  his  !  There  are  many  of  them,  and  as  they  sweep 
along  they  are  a  sight  to  be  looked  at  with  trembling." 

"  What  are  they,  Tecetl  ?  " 

"  How  can  I  answer  1  They  are  not  of  the  things  I  have 
Been  in  my  pictures,  nor  heard  in  my  songs.  The  face  of  the 
sea  is  whitened  by  them  ;  the  largest  leads  the  way,  looking 
like  a  shell,  —  of  them  I  have  heard  you  speak  as  coming 
from  the  sea,  —  a  great  shell  streaked  with  light  and  shade, 
and  hollow,  so  that  the  sides  rise  above  the  reach  of  the 
waves,  —  wings  — ." 

"  Nay,  what  would%  god  of  the  air  with  wings  to  journey 
upon  the  sea  ! " 

"  Above  it  are  clouds,  —  clouds  white  as  the  foam,  and  such 
as  a  god  might  choose  to  waft  him  on  his  way.  I  can  see 
them  sway  and  toss,  but  as  the  shell  rushes  into  the  hollow 
places,  they  lift  it  up,  and  drive  it  on." 

A  brighter  light  flashed  from  his  eyes.  "It  is  the  canoe, 
the  canoe  !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  The  canoe  from  Tlapallan  !  " 

v  The  canoe,  father !  The  waves  rush  joyously  around  it ; 
they  lift  themselves  in  its  path,  and  roll  on  to  meet  it ;  then, 


THE  SEARCH   FOR  QUETZAL'.  79 

as  if  they  knew  it  to  be  a  god's,  in  peace  make  way  for  its 
coining.  Upon  the  temples  in  my  pictures  I  have  seen  signs 
floating  in  the  air  —  " 

"  You  mean  banners, — banners,  child,"  he  said,  tremulously. 

"  I  remember  now.  Above  the  foremost  canoe,  above 
its  clouds,  there  is  a  banner,  and  it  is  black  — " 

"  T  is  Quetzal's  !     'T  is  Quetzal's  !  "  he  muttered. 

"  It  is  black,  with  golden  embroidery,  and  something  pic 
ture-written  on  it,  but  what  I  cannot  tell." 

"  Look  in  the  canoe." 

11 1  see  —  0,  I  know  not  what  to  call  them." 

"  Of  what  shape  are  they,  child  1 " 

"  Yours,  father." 

"  Go  on  :  they  are  gods  !  "  he  said,  and  still  the  naming 
of  men  was  unheard  in  the  great  chamber. 

"  There  are  many  of  them,"  she  continued  ;  "  their  gar 
ments  flash  and  gleam ;  around  one  like  themselves  they  are 
met ;  to  me  he  seems  the  superior  god  ;  he  is  speaking,  they 
are  listening.  He  is  taller  than  you,  father,  and  has  a  fair 
face,  and  hair  and  beard  like  the  hue  of  his  banner.  His 
garments  are  the  brightest  of  all." 

"  You  have  described  a  god  ;  it  is  Quetzal',  the  holy,  beau 
tiful  Quetzal'  !  "  he  said,  with  rising  voice.  "  Look  if  his 
course  be  toward  the  land." 

"  Every  canoe  moves  toward  the  shore." 

"  Enough  !  "  he  cried.  "  The  writing  on  the  wall  is  the 
god's  ! "  And,  rising,  he  awoke  the  girl. 

As  Tecetl  awake  had  no  recollection  of  her  journey,  or  of 
what  she  had  seen  in  its  course,  she  wondered  at  his  trouble 
and  excitement,  and  spoke  to  him,  without  answer. 

"  Father,  what  has  Tecetl  done  that  you  should  be  so  trou 
bled]" 

He  put  aside  her  arms,  and  in  silence  turned  slowly  from 
the  pleasant  place,  and  retraced  his  steps  back  through  the 
halls  of  the  Cu  to  the  court-yard  and  azoteas. 


80  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

The  weight  of  the  secret  did  not  oppress  him  ;  it  rested 
upon  him  lightly  as  the  surplice  upon  his  shoulders  ;  for  the 
humble  servant  of  his  god  was  lifted  above  his  poverty  and 
trembling,  and,  vivified  by  the  consciousness  of  inspiration, 
felt  more  than  a  warrior's  strength.  But  what  should  he  do  ] 
Where  proclaim  the  revelation  ?  Upon  the  temple  ? 

"  The  streets  are  deserted  ;  the  people  are  in  the  theatre  j 
the  king  is  there  with  all  Anahuac,"  he  muttered.  "The 
coming  of  Quetzal'  concerns  the  Empire,  and  it  shall  hear  the 
announcement :  so  not  on  the  temple,  but  to  the  tianguez, 
The  god  speaks  to  me  !  To  the  tianguez  !  " 

In  the  chapel  he  exchanged  his  white  surplice  for  the 
regalia  of  sacrifice.  Never  before,  to  his  fancy,  wore  the  idol 
such  seeming  of  life.  Satisfaction  played  grimly  about  its 
mouth ;  upon  its  brow,  like  a  coronet,  sat  the  infinite  Will. 
From  the  chapel  he  descended  to  the  street  that  led  to  the 
great  square.  Insensibly,  as  he  hurried  on,  his  steps  quick 
ened  ;  and  bareheaded  and  unsandalled,  his  white  beard  and 
hair  loose  and  flowing,  and  his  face  beaming  with  excite 
ment,  he  looked  the  very  embodiment  of  direful  prophecy. 
On  the  streets  he  met  only  slaves.  At  the  theatre  the  entrance 
was  blocked  by  people ;  soldiery  guarded  the  arena  :  but 
guard  and  people  shrunk  at  his  approach ;  and  thus,  without 
word  or  cry,  he  rushed  within  the  wall  of  shields,  where 
were  none  but  the  combatants,  living  and  dead. 

Midway  the  arena  he  halted,  his  face  to  the  king.  Around 
ran  his  wondrous  glance,  and,  regardless  of  the  royalty  pres 
ent,  the  people  shouted,  "  The  paba,  the  paba  !  "  and  their 
many  voices  shook  the  theatre.  Flinging  the  white  locks 
back  on  his  shoulders,  he  tossed  his  arms  aloft ;  and  the 
tumult  rose  into  the  welkin,  and  a  calm  settled  over  the 
multitude.  Montezuina,  with  the  malediction  warm  on  his 
lips,  bent  from  his  couch  to  hear  his  words. 

"  Woe   is  Tenochtitlan,  the  beautiful ! "  he  cried,  iu  tho 


THE  SEARCH  FOR  QUETZAL'.  81 

unmeasured  accents  of  grief.  "  Woe  to  homes,  and  people, 
and  armies,  and  king !  Why  this  gathering  of  dwellers  on 
the  hills  and  in  the  valleys  ?  Why  the  combat  of  warriors  1 
Quetzal'  is  at  hand.  He  comes  for  vengeance.  Woe  is 
Tenochtitlan,  the  beautiful  t  *  *  *  *  This,  0  king,  is  the 
day  of  the  fulfilment  of  prophecy.  From  out  the  sea,  wafted 
by  clouds,  even  now  the  canoes  of  the  god  are  coming.  His 
power  whitens  the  waves,  and  the  garments  of  his  warriors 
gleam  with  the  light  of  the  sky.  Woe  is  Tenochtitlan  !  This 
day  is  the  last  of  her  perfect  glory ;  to-morrow  Quetzal'  will 
glisten  on  the  sea-shore,  and  her  Empire  vanish  forever. 
*  *  *  *  People,  say  farewell  to  peace  !  Keepers  of  the 
temples,  holy  men,  go  feed  the  fires,  and  say  the  prayer,  and 
sacrifice  the  victim  !  And  thou,  0  king  !  summon  thy  strong 
men,  leaders  in  battle,  and  be  thy  banners  counted,  and  thy 
nations  marshalled.  In  vain  !  Woe  is  Tenochtitlan  !  Sit 
ting  in  the  lake,  she  shines  lustrously  as  a  star  ;  and  though 
in  a  valley  of  gardens,  she  is  like  a  great  tree  shadowing  in  a 
desert.  But  the  ravager  comes,  and  the  tree  shall  be  felled, 
and  the  star  go  out  darkling  forever.  The  fires  shall  fade, 
the  bones  of  the  dead  kings  be  scattered,  altars  and  gods 
overthrown,  and  every  temple  levelled  with  the  streets.  Woe 
is  Tenochtitlan  !  Ended,  —  ended  forever  is  the  march  of 
Azatlan,  the  mighty  !  " 

His  arms  fell  down,  and,  without  further  word,  his  head 
bowed  upon  his  breast,  the  prophet  departed.  The  spell  he 
left  behind  him  remained  unbroken.  As  they  recovered 
from  the  effects  of  his  bodement,  the  people  left  the  theatre, 
their  minds  full  of  indefinite  dread.  If  perchance  they 
spoke  of  the  scene  as  they  went,  it  was  in  whispers,  and 
rather  to  sound  the  depths  of  each  other's  alarm.  And  for 
the  rest  of  the  day  they  remained  in  their  houses,  brooding 
alone,  or  collected  in  groups,  talking  in  low  voices,  wonder 
ing  about  the  prescience  of  the  paba,  and  looking  each  mo 
ment  for  the  development  of  something  more  terrible. 


82  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


The  king  watched  the  holy  man  until  he  disappeared  in 
the  crowded  passage  ;  then  a  deadly  paleness  overspread  his 
face,  and  he  sunk  almost  to  the  platform.  The  nobles  rushed 
around,  and  bore  him  to  his  palanquin,  their  brave  souls 
astonished  that  the  warrior  and  priest  and  mighty  monarch 
could  be  so  overcome.  They  carried  him  to  his  palace,  and 
left  him  to  a  solitude  full  of  unkingly  superstitions. 

Guatamozin,  serene  amid  the  confusion,  called  the  tamanes, 
and  ordered  the  old  Othmi  and  the  dead  removed.  The  Tez- 
cucan  still  breathed. 

"  The  reviler  of  the  gods  shall  be  cared  for,"  he  said  to 
himself.  "  If  he  lives,  their  justice  will  convict  him." 

Before  the  setting  of  the  sun,  the  structure  in  the  tianguez 
was  taken  down  and  restored  to  the  temples,  never  again  to 
be  used.  Yet  the  market-place  remained  deserted  and  vacant ; 
the  whole  city  seemed  plague-smitten. 

And  the  common  terror  was  not  without  cause,  any  more 
than  Mualox  was  without  inspiration.  That  night  the  ships 
of  Cortes,  eleven  in  number,  and  freighted  with  the  materials 
of  conquest,  from  the  east  of  Yucatan,  came  sweeping  down 
the  bay  of  Campeachy.  Next  morning  they  sailed  up  the 
Eio  de  Tabasco,  beautiful  with  its  pure  water  and  its  banks 
fringed  with  mangroves.  Tecetl  had  described  the  fleet, 
the  sails  of  which  from  afar  looked  like  clouds,  while  they 
did,  indeed,  whiten  the  sea. 

Next  evening  a  courier  sped  hotly  over  the  causeway  and 
up  the  street,  stopping  at  the  gate  of  the  royal  palace.  He 
was  taken  before  the  king ;  and,  shortly  after,  it  went  flying 
over  the  city  how  Quetzal'  had  arrived,  in  canoes  larger  than 
temples,  wafted  by  clouds,  and  full  of  thunder  and  lightning. 
Then  sank  the  monarch's  heart ;  and,  though  the  Spaniard 
knew  it  not,  his  marvellous  conquest  was  half  completed 
before  his  iron  shoe  smote  the  shore  at  San  Juan  de  Ulloa.  * 

*  Cortes'  squadron  reached  the  mouth  of  the  river  Tabasco  on  the  12th 
of  March,  1519. 


BOOK    TWO. 

CHAPTEE   I. 

WHO  ARE  THE  STRANGERS  ? 

MAECH  passed,  and  April  came,  and  still  the  strangers, 
in  their  great  canoes,  lingered  on  the  coast.  Montezuma 
observed  them  with  becoming  prudence ;  through  his  lookouts, 
he  was  informed  of  their  progress  from  the  time  they  left  the 
Eio  de  Tabasco. 

The  constant  anxiety  to  which  he  was  subjected  affected 
his  temper  ;  and,  though  roused  from  the  torpor  into  which 
he  had  been  plunged  by  the  visit  to  the  golden  chamber,  and 
the  subsequent  prophecy  of  Mualox,  his  melancholy  was  a 
thing  of  common  observation.  He  renounced  his  ordinary 
amusements,  even  totoloque,  and  went  no  more  to  the  hunting- 
grounds  on  the  shore  of  the  lake  ;  in  preference,  he  took 
long  walks  in  the  gardens,  and  reclined  in  the  audience- 
chamber  of  his  palace ;  yet  more  remarkable,  conversa 
tion  with  his  councillors  and  nobles  delighted  him  more 
than  the  dances  of  his  women  or  the  songs  of  his  min 
strels.  In  truth,  the  monarch  was  himself  a  victim  of  the 
delusions  he  had  perfected  for  his  people.  Polytheism  had 
come  to  him  with  the  Empire  ;  but  he  had  enlarged  upon  it, 
and  covered  it  with  dogmas;  and  so  earnestly,  through  a 
long  and  glorious  reign,  had  he  preached  them,  that,  at  last, 
he  had  become  his  own  most  zealous  convert.  In  all  his 
dominions,  there  was  not  one  whom  faith  more  inclined  to 
absolute  fear  of  Quetzal'  than  himselt 


84  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


One  evening  he  passed  from  his  bath  to  the  dining-hall 
for  the  last  meal  of  the  day.  Invigorated,  and,  as  was  his 
custom,  attired  for  the  fourth  time  since  morning  in  fresh 
garments,  he  walked  briskly,  and  even  droned  a  song. 

No  monarch  in  Europe  fared  more  sumptuously  than 
Montezuma.  The  room  devoted  to  the  purpose  was  spacious, 
and,  on  this  occasion,  brilliantly  lighted.  The  floor  was 
spread  with  figured  matting,  and  the  walls  hung  with  beau 
tiful  tapestry ;  and  in  the  centre  of  the  apartment  a  lux 
urious  couch  had  been  rolled  for  him,  it  being  his  habit  to 
eat  reclining ;  while,  to  hide  him  from  the  curious,  a  screen 
had  been  contrived,  and  set  up  between  the  couch  and  prin 
cipal  door.  The  viands  set  down  by  his  steward  as  the 
substantial  of  the  first  course  were  arranged  upon  the  floor 
before  the  couch,  and  kept  warm  and  smoking  by  chafing- 
dishes.  The  table,  if  such  it  may  be  called,  was  supplied  by 
contributions  from  the  provinces,  and  furnished,  in  fact,  no 
contemptible  proof  of  his  authority,  and  the  perfection  with 
which  it  was  exercised.  The  ware  was  of  the  finest  Cholulau 
manufacture,  and,  like  his  clothes,  never  used  by  him  but 
the  once,  a  royal  custom  requiring  him  to  present  it  to  his 
friends.* 

When  he  entered  the  room,  the  evening  I  haw1 6  mentioned, 
there  were  present  only  his  steward,  four  or  five  aged  coun 
cillors,  whom  he  was  accustomed  to  address  as  "  uncles,"  and 
a  couple  of  women,  who  occupied  themselves  in  preparing 
certain  wafers  and  confections  which  he  particularly  affected. 
He  stretched  himself  comfortably  upon  the  couch,  much,  I 
presume,  after  the  style  of  the  Boruans,  and  at  once  began 
the  meal.  The  ancients  moved  back  several  steps,  and  a 
score  of  boys,  noble,  yet  clad  in  the  inevitable  nequen,  re 
sponding  to  a  bell,  came  in  and  posted  themselves  to  answei 
bis  requests. 

*  Prescott,  Conq.  of  Mexico. 


WHO  ARE  THE  STRANGLES  1  85 


Sometimes,  by  invitation,  the  councillors  were  permitted 
to  share  the  feast ;  oftener,  however,  the  only  object  of  their 
presence  was  to  afford  him  the  gratification  of  remark.  The 
conversation  was  usually  irregular,  and  hushed  and  renewed 
as  lie  prompted,  and  not  unfrequently  extended  to  the  gravest 
political  and  religious  subjects.  On  the  evening  in  question 
he  spoke  to  them  kindly. 

"  I  feel  better  this  evening,  uncles.  My  good  star  is  rising 
above  the  mists  that  have  clouded  it.  We  ought  not  to  com 
plain  of  what  we  cannot  help  ;  still,  I  have  thought  that 
when  the  gods  retained  the  power  to  afflict  us  with  sorrows, 
they  should  have  given  us  some  power  to  correct  them." 

One  of  the  old  men  answered  reverentially,  "A  king 
should  be  too  great  for  sorrows ;  he  should  wear  his  crown 
against  them  as  we  wear  our  mantles  against  the  cold  winds." 

"  A  good  idea,"  said  the  monarch,  smiling  ;  "  but  you  for- 
get  that  the  crown,  instead  of  protecting,  is  itself  the  trouble. 
Come  nearer,  uncles ;  there  is  a  matter  more  serious  about 
which  I  would  hear  your  minds." 

They  obeyed  him,  and  he  went  on. 

"The  last  courier  brought  me  word  that  the  strangers 
were  yet  on  the  coast,  hovering  about  the  islands.  Tell  me, 
who  say  you  they  are,  and  whence  do  they  come  ? " 

"How  may  we  know  more  than  our  wise  master?"  said 
one  of  them. 

"  And  our  thoughts,  —  do  we  not  borrow  them  from  you, 
0  king  1 "  added  another. 

"  What !  Call  you  those  answers  ?  Nay,  uncles,  my 
fools  can  better  serve  me ;  if  they  cannot  instruct,  they  can 
at  least  amuse." 

The  king  spoke  bitterly,  and  looking  at  one,  probably  the 
oldest  of  them  all,  said,  — 

"  Uncle,  you  are  the  poorest  courtier,  but  you  are  discreet 
and  honest.  I  want  opinions  that  have  in  them  more  wis< 


86  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


dom  than  flattery.  Speak  to  me  truly  :  who  are  these 
strangers  ? " 

"  For  your  sake,  0  my  good  king,  I  wish  I  were  wise ; 
for  the  trouble  they  have  given  my  poor  understanding  is 
indeed  very  great.  I  believe  them  to  be  gods,  landed  from 
the  Sun."  And  the  old  man  went  on  to  fortify  his  belief 
with  arguments.  In  the  excited  state  of  his  fancy,  it  was 
easy  for  him  to  convert  the  cannon  of  the  Spaniards  into 
engines  of  thunder  and  lightning,  and  transform  their 
horses  into  creatures  of  Mictlan  mightier  than  men.  Right 
summarily  he  also  concluded,  that  none  but  gods  could 
traverse  the  dominions  of  Haloc,*  subjecting  the  variant 
winds  to  their  will.  Finally,  to  prove  the  strangers  irresist 
ible,  he  referred  to  the  battle  of  Tabasco,  then  lately  fought 
between  Cortes  and  the  Indians. 

Montezuma  heard  him  in  silence,  and  replied,  "  Not 
badly  given,  uncle ;  your  friends  may  profit  by  your  exam 
ple  ;  but  you  have  not  talked  as  a  warrior.  You  have  for 
gotten  that  we,  too,  have  beaten  the  lazy  Tabascans.  That 
reference  proves  as  much  for  my  caciques  as  for  your  gods." 

He  waved  his  hand,  and  the  first  course  was  removed. 
The  second  consisted  for  the  most  part  of  delicacies  in  the 
preparation  of  which  his  artistes  delighted ;  at  this  time  ap 
peared  the  choclatl,  a  rich,  frothy  beverage  served  in  xicaras, 
or  small  golden  goblets.  Girls,  selected  for  their  rank  and 
beauty,  succeeded  the  boys.  Flocking  around  him  with  light 
and  echoless  feet,  very  graceful,  very  happy,  theirs  was  in 
deed  the  service  that  awaits  the  faithful  in  Mahomet's  Para 
dise.  To  each  of  his  ancients  he  passed  a  goblet  of  choclatl, 
then  continued  his  eating  and  talking. 

"  Yes.  Be  they  gods  or  men,  I  would  give  a  province  to 
know  their  intention ;  that,  uncles,  would  enable  me  to  de 
termine  my  policy,  —  whether  to  give  them  war  or  peace. 

*  God  of  the  sea. 


WHO  ARE  THE  STRANGER*  -  87 

As  yet,  they  have  asked  nothing  but  the  privilege  of  trading 
with  us ;  and,  judging  them  by  our  nations,  I  want  not  bet 
ter  warrant  of  friendship.  As  you  know,  strangers  have 
twice  before  been  upon  our  coast  in  such  canoes,  and  with 
such  arms ;  *  and  in  both  instances  they  sought  gold,  and 
getting  it  they  departed.  Will  these  go  like  them  ? " 

"  Has  my  master  forgotten  the  words  of  Mualox  1 " 

"  To  Mictlan  with  the  paba  !  "  said  the  king,  violently. 
"  He  has  filled  my  cities  and  people  with  trouble." 

"  Yet  he  is  a  prophet,"  retorted  the  old  councillor,  boldly. 
'*  How  knew  he  of  the  coming  of  the  strangers  before  it 
was  known  in  the  palace  ?  " 

The  flush  of  the  king's  face  faded. 

"It  is  a  mystery,  uncle,  —  a  mystery  too  deep  for  me. 
All  the  day  and  night  before  he  was  in  his  Cu ;  he  went  not 
into  the  city  even." 

"  If  the  wise  master  will  listen  to  the  words  of  his  slave, 
he  will  not  again  curse  the  paba,  but  make  him  a  friend." 

The  monarch's  lip  curled  derisively. 

"  My  palace  is  now  a  house  of  prayer  and  sober  life ;  he 
would  turn  it  into  a  place  of  revelry." 

All  the  ancients  but  the  one  laughed  at  the  irony ;  that 
one  repeated  his  words. 

"  A  friend ;  but  how  1 "  asked  Montezuma. 

"  Call  him  from  the  Cu  to  the  palace  ;  let  him  stand  here 
with  us  ;  in  the  councils  give  him  a  voice.  He  can  read  the 
future  ;  make  of  him  an  oracle.  0  king,  who  like  him  can 
stand  between  you  and  Quetzal'  ]  " 

For  a  while  Montezuma  toyed  idly  with  the  xicara.  He 
also  believed  in  the  prophetic  gifts  of  Mualox,  and  it  was 
not  the  first  time  he  had  pondered  the  question  of  how  the 
holy  man  had  learned  the  coming  of  the  strangers ;  to  satisfy 

*  The  allusion  was  doubtless  to  the  expeditions  of  Hernandez  de  Cor 
dova,  in  1517,  and  Juan  de  Grijalva,  in  1518. 


88  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


himself  as  to  his  means  of  information,  he  had  even  insti 
tuted  inquiries  outside  the  palace.  And  yet  it  was  but  one 
of  several  mysteries ;  behind  it,  if  not  superior,  were  the 
golden  chamber,  its  wealth,  and  the  writing  on  the  Avails. 
They  were  not  to  be  attributed  to  the  paba  :  works  so  won 
drous  could  not  have  been  done  in  one  lifetime.  They  Avero 
the  handiwork  of  a  god,  who  had  chosen  Mualox  for  his  ser 
vant  and  prophet ;  such  was  the  judgment  of  the  king. 

Nor  was  that  all.  The  monarch  had  come  to  believe  that 
the  strangers  on  the  coast  were  Quetzal'  and  his  followers, 
whom  it  were  vain  to  resist,  if  their  object  was  vengeance. 
But  the  human  heart  is  seldom  without  its  suggestion  of 
hope  ;  and  he  thought,  though  resistance  was  impossible, 
might  he  not  propitiate1?  This  policy  had  occupied  his 
thoughts,  and  most  likely  without  result,  for  the  words  of 
the  councillor  seemed  welcome.  Indeed,  he  could  scarcely 
fail  to  recognize  the  bold  idea  they  conveyed,  —  nothing 
less,  in  fact,  than  meeting  the  god  with  his  own  prophet. 

"  Very  well,"  he  said,  in  his  heart.  "  I  will  use  the  paba. 
He  shall  come  and  stand  between  me  and  the  woe." 

Then  he  arose,  took  a  string  of  pearls  from  his  neck, 
and  with  his  own  hand  placed  it  around  that  of  the 
ancient. 

"  Your  place  is  with  me,  uncle.  I  will  have  a  chamber 
fitted  for  you  here  in  the  palace.  Go  no  more  away.  Ho, 
steward  !  The  supper  is  done ;  let  the  pipes  be  brought, 
and  give  me  music  and  dance.  Bid  the  minstrels  come.  A 
song  of  the  olden  time  maj  make  me  strong  again." 


A  TEZCUCAN   LOVER.  89 


CHAPTER  n. 

A   TEZCUCAN   LOVER. 

TRACES  of  the  supper  speedily  disappeared.  The  screen 
was  rolled  away,  and  pipes  placed  in  the  monarch's 
hand  for  distribution  amongst  his  familiars.  Blue  vapor 
began  to  ascend  to  the  carved  rafters,  when  the  tapestry  on 
both  sides  of  the  room  was  flung  aside,  and  the  sound  of 
cornets  and  flutes  poured  in  from  an  adjoining  apartment ; 
and,  as  if  answering  the  summons  of  the  music,  a  company 
of  dancing-girls  entered,  and  filled  the  space  in  front  of  the 
monarch ;  half  nude  were  they,  and  flashing  with  ornaments, 
and  aerial  with  gauze  and  flying  ribbons  ;  silver  bells  tinkled 
with  each  step,  and  on  their  heads  were  wreaths,  and  in  their 
hands  garlands  of  flowers.  Voluptuous  children  were  they 
of  the  voluptuous  valley. 

Saluting  the  monarch,  they  glided  away,  and  commenced 
a  dance.  "With  dreamy,  half-shut  eyes,  through  the  scented 
cloud  momently  deepening  around  him,  he  watched  them  ; 
and  in  the  sensuous,  animated  scene  was  disclosed  one  of 
the  enchantments  that  had  weaned  him  from  the  martial 
love  of  his  youth. 

Every  movement  of  the  figure  had  been  carefully  studied, 
and  a  kind  of  aesthetic  philosophy  was  blent  with  its  perfect 
time  and  elegance  of  motion.  Slow  and  stately  at  first,  it 
gradually  quickened ;  then,  as  if  to  excite  the  blood  and 
fancy,  it  became  more  mazy  and  voluptuous  ;  and  finally,  as 
that  is  the  sweetest  song  that  ends  with  a  long  decadence,  it 
was  so  concluded  as  to  soothe  the  transports  itself  had 
awakened.  Sweeping  along,  it  reached  a  point,  a  very 
climax  of  abandon  and  beauty,  in  which  the  dancers  ap- 


90  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


peared  to  forget  the  music  and  the  method  of  the  figure  ; 
then  the  eyes  of  the  king  shone  brightly,  and  the  pipe  lin 
gered  on  his  lips  forgotten ;  and  then  the  musicians  began, 
one  by  one,  to  withdraw  from  the  harmony,  and  the  dancers 
to  vanish  singly  from  the  room,  until,  at  last,  there  was  but 
;one  flute  to  be  heard,  while  but  one  girl  remained.  Finally, 
she  also  disappeared,  and  all  grew  still  again. 

And  the  king  sat  silent  and  listless,  surrendered  to  the 
enjoyment  which  was  the  object  of  the  diversion ;  yet  he 
heard  the  music  ;  yet  he  saw  the  lithe  and  palpitating  forms 
of  the  dancers  in  posture  and  motion ;  yet  he  felt  the  sweet 
influence  of  their  youth  and  grace  and  beauty,  not  as  a 
passion,  but  rather  a  spell  full  of  the  suggestions  of  passion, 
when  a  number  of  men  came  noiselessly  in,  and,  kneeling, 
saluted  him.  Their  costume  was  that  of  priests,  and  each 
of  them  carried  an  instrument  of  music  fashioned  somewhat 
like  a  Hebrew  lyre. 

"  Ah,  my  minstrels,  my  minstrels ! "  he  said,  his  face 
flushing  with  pleasure.  "  Welcome  in  the  streets,  welcome 
in  the  camp,  welcome  in  the  palace,  also  !  What  have  you 
to-night  ] " 

"  When  last  we  were  admitted  to  your  presence,  O  king, 
you  bade  us  compose  hymns  to  the  god  Quetzal'  —  " 

"  Yes  ;  I  remember." 

"  We  pray  you  not  to  think  ill  of  your  slaves  if  we  say 
that  the  verses  which  come  unbidden  are  the  best ;  no  song 
of  the  bird's  so  beautiful  as  the  one  it  sings  when  its  heart 
is  fall." 

The  monarch  sat  up. 

"  Nay,  I  did  not  command.  I  know  something  of  the  spirit 
of  poetry.  It  is  not  a  thing  to  be  driven  by  the  will,  like  a 
canoe  by  a  strong  arm  ;  neither  is  it  a  slave,  to  come  or  go 
at  a  signal.  I  bid  my  warriors  march ;  I  order  the  sacri 
fice  ;  but  the  lays  of  my  minstrels  have  ever  been  of  their 


A  TEZCUCAN  LOVER.  91 

free  will.  Leave  me  now.  To  you  are  my  gardens  and  pal 
aces.  I  warrant  the  verses  you  have  are  good ;  but  go  ask 
your  hearts  for  better." 

They  retired  with  their  faces  toward  him  until  hidden 
behind  the  tapestry. 

"  I  love  a  song,  uncles,"  continued  the  king  ;  "  I  love  a 
hymn  to  the  gods,  and  a  story  of  battle  chanted  in  a  deep 
voice.  In  the  halls  of  the  Sun  every  soul  is  a  minstrel,  and 
every  tale  a  song.  But  let  them  go  ;  it  is  well  enough.  I 
promised  Itzlil',  the  Tezcucan,  to  give  him  audience  to-night. 
He  comes  to  the  palace  but  seldom,  and  he  has  not  asked  a 
favor  since  I  settled  his  quarrel  with  the  lord  Cacama.  Send 
one  to  see  if  he  is  now  at  the  door.". 

Thereupon  he  fell  to  reflecting  and  smoking ;  and  when 
next  he  spoke,  it  was  from  the  midst  of  an  aromatic  cloud. 

"  I  loved  the  wise  'Hualpilli ;  for  his  sake,  I  would  have 
his  children  happy.  He  was  a  lover  of  peace,  and  gave 
more  to  policy  than  to  war.  It  were  grievous  to  let  his 
city  be  disturbed  by  feuds  and  fighting  men ;  therefore  I 
gave  it  to  the  eldest  son.  His  claim  was  best ;  and,  besides, 
he  has  the  friendly  heart  to  serve  me.  Still  —  still,  I  wish 
there  had  been  two  Tezcucos." 

"  There  was  but  one  voice  about  the  judgment  in  Tezcuco, 

0  king ;  the  citizens  all  said  it  was  just." 

"  And  they  would  have  said  the  same  if  I  had  given  them 
IzthT.  I  know  the  knaves,  uncle.  It  was  not  their  applause 

1  cared  for ;  but,  you  see,  in  gaining  a  servant,  I  lost  one. 
IzthT  is  a  warrior.     Had  he  the  will,  he  could  serve  me  in 
the  field  as  well  as  his  brother  in  the  council.    I  must  attach 
him  to  me.     A  strong  arm  is  pleasant  to  lean  on ;  it  is  better 
than  a  staff." 

Addressing  himself  to  the  pipe  again,  he  sat  smoking,  and 
moodily  observing  the  vapor  vanish  above  him.  There  was 
silence  until  IztliT  was  ushered  in. 


92  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


The  cacique  was  still  suffering  from  his  wounds.  His  step 
was  feeble,  so  that  his  obeisance  was  stopped  by  the  monarch 
himself. 

"  Let  the  salutation  go,  my  lord  Iztlil'.  Your  courage  has 
cost  you  much.  I  remember  you  are  the  son  of  my  old  friend, 
and  bid  you  welcome." 

"  The  Tlascalans  are  good  warriors,"  said  the  Tezcucan, 
coldly. 

"And  for  that  reason  better  victims,"  added  the  king, 
quickly.  "  By  the  Sun,  I  know  not  what  we  would  do  with 
out  them.  Their  hills  supply  our  temples." 

"  And  I,  good  king — I  am  but  a  warrior.  My  heart  is  not 
softened  by  things  pertaining  to  religion.  Enough  for  me  to 
worship  the  gods." 

"  Then  you  are  not  a  student  1 " 

"  I  never  studied  in  the  academies." 

"  I  understand,"  said  the  king,  with  a  low  laugh.  "  You 
cannot  name  as  many  stars  as  enemies  whom  you  have  slain. 
No  matter.  I  have  places  for  such  scholars.  Have  you 
commanded  an  army  1 " 

"  It  pleased  you  to  give  me  that  confidence.  I  led  my 
companies  within  the  Tlascalan  wall,  and  came  back  with 
captives." 

"  I  recollect  now.  But  as  most  good  warriors  are  modest, 
my  son,  I  will  not  tell  you  what  the  chiefs  said  of  your  con 
duct  ;  you  would  blush  —  " 

Iztlil'  started. 

"  Content  you,  content  you  ;  your  blush  would  not  be  for 
shame." 

There  was  a  pause,  which  the  king  gave  to  his  pipe.  Sud 
denly  he  said,  "  There  have  been  tongues  busy  with  your 
fame,  my  son.  I  have  heard  you  were  greatly  dissatisfied 
because  I  gave  your  father's  city  to  your  elder  brother.  But 
I  consider  that  men  are  never  without  detractors,  and  I  can- 


A  TEZCUCAN   LOVER.  93 

not  forget  that  you  have  perilled  your  life  for  the  gods. 
Actions  I  accept  as  the  proofs  of  will.  If  the  favor  that 
brought  you  here  he  reasonable,  it  is  yours  for  the  asking.  I 
have  the  wish  to  serve  you." 

"  I  am  not  surprised  that  I  have  enemies,"  said  Iztlil', 
calmly.  "  I  will  abuse  no  one  on  that  account ;  for  I  am  an 
enemy,  and  can  forgive  in  others  what  I  deem  virtue  in  my 
self.  But  it  moves  me  greatly,  O  king,  that  my  enemies 
should  steal  into  your  palace,  and,  in  my  absence,  wrong  me 
in  your  opinion.  But  pardon  me ;  I  did  not  come  to  defend 
myself  —  " 

"  You  have  taken  my  words  in  an  evil  sense,"  interposed 
the  king,  with  an  impatient  gesture. 

"Or  to   conceal   the    truth,"   the    Tezcucan    continued. 
"  There  is   kingly  blood  in  me,  and  I  dare  speak  as  my 
father's  son.     So  if  they  said  merely  that  I  was  dissatisfied 
with  your  judgment,  they  said  truly." 
Montezuma  frowned. 

"  I  intend  my  words  to  be  respectful,  most  mighty  king. 
A  common  wisdom  teaches  us  to  respect  the  brave  man  and 
dread  the  coward.  And  there  is  not  in  your  garden  a  flower 
as  beautiful,  nor  in  your  power  a  privilege  as  precious,  as  free 
speech  ;  and  it  would  sound  ill  of  one  so  great  and  secure  as 
my  father's  friend  if  he  permitted  in  the  streets  and  in  the 
farmer's  hut  what  he  forbade  in  his  palace.  I  spoke  of  dis 
satisfaction  ;  but  think  not  it  was  because  you  gave  Tezcuco 
to  my  brother,  and  to  me  the  bare  hills  that  have  scarcely 
herbage  enough  for  a  wolf- covert.  I  am  less  a  prince  than  a 
warrior ;  all  places  are  alike  to  me ;  the  earth  affords  me 
royal  slumber,  while  no  jewelled  canopy  is  equal  to  the  starred 
heavens  ;  and  as  there  is  a  weakness  in  pleasant  memories,  I 
have  none.  To  such  as  I  am,  0  king,  what  matters  a  barren 
hill  or  a  proud  palace  ]  I  murmured,  nay,  I  did  more,  be 
cause,  in  judging  my  quarrel,  you  overthrew  the  indepen- 


94  THE   FAIR  GOD. 

dence  of  my  country.  When  my  father  visited  you  irom 
across  the  lake,  he  was  not  accustomed  to  stand  before  you, 
or  hide  his  kingly  robes  beneath  a  slave's  garb." 

Montezuma  half  started  from  his  seat.  "  Holy  gods  !  Is 
rebellion  so  bold  1 " 

"I  meant  no  disrespect,  great  king.  I  only  sought  to 
justify  myself,  and  in  your  royal  presence  say  what  I  have 
"thought  while  fighting  under  your  banner.  But,  without 
more  abuse  of  your  patience,  I  will  to  my  purpose,  especially 
as  I  came  for  peace  and  friendship." 

"  The  son  of  my  friend  forgets  that  I  have  ways  to  make 
peace  without  treating  for  it,"  said  the  king. 

The  Tezcucan  smothered  an  angry  reply. 

"  By  service  done,  I  have  shown  a  disposition  to  serve  you, 
0  king.  Very  soon  every  warrior  will  be  needed.  A  throne 
may  be  laid  amid  hymns  and  priestly  prayers,  yet  have  no 
strength ;  to  endure,  it  must  rest  upon  the  allegiance  of  love. 
Though  I  have  spoken  unpleasant  words,  I  came  to  ask  that, 
by  a  simple  boon,  you  give  me  cause  to  love.  I  have  re 
flected  that  I,  too,  am  of  royal  blood,  and,  as  the  son  of  a 
king,  may  lead  your  armies,  and  look  for  alliance  in  your 
house.  By  marriage,  0  king,  I  desire,  come  good  or  evil,  to 
link  my  fortune  to  yours." 

Montezuma's  countenance  was  stolid  ;  no  eye  could  have 
detected  upon  it  so  much  as  surprise.  He  quietly  asked, 
"  Which  of  my  daughters  has  found  favor  in  your  eyes  1 " 

"  They  are  all  beautiful,  but  only  one  of  them  is  fitted  for 
a  warrior's  wife." 

"  Tula  1 " 

IztliT  bowed. 

'  "  She  is  dear  to  me,"  said  the  king,  softly,  "  dearer  than  a 
city ;  she  is  holy  as  a  temple,  and  lovelier  than  the  morning ; 
her  voice  is  sweet  as  the  summer  wind,  and  her  presence  as 
the  summer  itself.  Have  you  spoken  to  her  of  this  thing  ? " 


THE  BANISHMENT  OF  GUATAMOZIN.  95 

"I  love  her,  so  that  her  love  is  nothing  to  me.  Her 
feelings  are  her  own,  but  she  is  yours ;  and  you  are  more 
powerful  to  give  than  she  to  withhold." 

"  Well,  well,"  said  the  monarch,  after  a  little  thought ; 
"  in  my  realm  there  are  none  of  hetter  quality  than  the  chil 
dren  of  'Hualpilli,  —  none  from  whom  such  demand  is  as 
proper.  Yet  it  is  worthy  deliberation.  It  is  true,  I  have 
the  power  to  bestow,  but  there  are  others  who  have  the  right 
to  be  consulted.  I  study  the  happiness  of  my  people,  and 
it  were  unnatural  if  I  cared  less  for  that  of  my  children. 
So  leave  me  now,  but  take  with  you,  brave  prince,  the  assur 
ance  that  I  am  friendly  to  your  suit.  The  gods  go  with 
you  ! " 

And  IztliT,  after  a  low  obeisance,  withdrew ;  and  then  the 
overture  was  fully  discussed.  Montezuma  spoke  freely,  wel 
coming  the  opportunity  of  securing  the  bold,  free-spoken 
cacique,  and  seeing  in  the  demand  only  a  question  of  policy. 
As  might  be  expected,  the  ancients  made  no  opposition ; 
they  could  see  no  danger  in  the  alliance,  and  had  no  care  for 
the  parties.  It  was  policy. 


CHAPTEE  III. 

THE  BANISHMENT  OF    GUATAMOZIN. 

THE  palace  of  Montezuma  was  regarded  as  of  very  great 
sanctity,  so  that  his  household,  its  economy,  and  the 
exact  relation  its  members  bore  to  each  other  were  mysteries 
to  the  public.  From  the  best  information,  however,  it  would 
seem  that  he  had  two  lawful  and  acknowledged  wives,  the 
queens  Tecalco  and  Acatlan.*  who,  with  their  families,  occu- 

*  These  are  the  proper  names  of  the  queens.     MSS  of  Mufioz.     Also, 
note  to  Prescott,  Conq.  of  Mexico,  Vol.  II.,  p.  351. 


96  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


pied  spacious  apartments  secure  from  intrusion.  They  were 
good-looking,  middle-aged  women,  whom  the  monarch  hon 
ored  with  the  highest  respect  and  confidence.  By  the  first 
one,  he  had  a  son  and  daughter ;  by  the  second,  two 
daughters. 

"  Help  me,  Acatlan  !  I  appeal  to  your  friendship,  to 
the  love  you  bear  your  children,  —  help  me  in  my  trouble." 
So  the  queen  Tecalco  prayed  the  queen  Acatlan  in  the  palace 
the  morning  after  the  audience  given  the  Tezcucan  by  the 
king. 

The  two  were  sitting  in  a  room  furnished  with  some  taste. 
Through  the  great  windows,  shaded  by  purple  curtains, 
streamed  the  fresh  breath  of  the  early  day.  There  were 
female  slaves  around  them  in  waiting ;  while  a  boy  nearly 
grown,  at  the  eastern  end  of  the  apartment,  was  pitching 
the  golden  balls  in  totoloque.  This  was  prince  Io',  the 
brother  of  Tula,  and  son  of  Tecalco. 

"  What  is  the  trouble  1     What  can  I  do  ?"  asked  Acatlan. 

"  Listen  to  me,"  said  Tecalco.  "  The  king  has  just  gone. 
He  came  in  better  mood  than  usual,  and  talked  pleasantly. 
Something  had  happened ;  some  point  of  policy  had  been 
gained.  Nowadays,  you  know,  he  talks  and  thinks  of  noth 
ing  but  policy ;  formerly  it  was  all  of  war.  We  cannot 
deny,  Acatlan,  that  he  is  much  changed.  Well,  he  played 
a  game  with  Io',  then  sat  down,  saying  he  had  news  which 
he  thought  would  please  me.  You  will  hardly  believe  it, 
but  he  said  that  IzthT,  the  proud  Tezcucan,  asked  Tula  in 
marriage  last  night.  Think  of  it !  Tula,  my  blossom,  my 
soul !  and  to  that  vile  cacique  ! " 

"Well,  he  is  brave,  and  the  son  of  'Hualpilli,"  said 
Acatlan. 

"  What !  You  !  "  said  Tecalco,  despairingly.  "  Do  you, 
too,  turn  against  me  ]  I  do  not  like  him,  and  would  not  if 
he  were  the  son  of  a  god.  Tula  hates  him  !  " 


THE  BANISHMENT   OP  GUATAMOZIN.  97 

"  I  Avill  not  turn  against  you,  Tecalco.  Be  calmer,  and 
tell  me  what  more  the  king  said." 

"  I  told  him  I  was  surprised,  but  not  glad  to  hear  the 
news.  He  frowned,  and  paced  the  floor,  now  here,  now 
there.  I  was  frightened,  but  could  bear  his  anger  better 
than  the  idea  of  my  Tula,  so  good,  so  beautiful,  the  wife  of 
the  base  Tezcucan.  He  said  the  marriage  must  go  on ;  it 
was  required  by  policy,  and  would  help  quiet  the  Empire, 
which  was  never  so  threatened.  You  will  hardly  believe  I 
ventured  to  tell  him  that  it  should  not  be,  as  Tula  was 
already  contracted  to  Gttatamozin.  I  supposed  that  an 
nouncement  would  quiet  the  matter,  but  it  only  enraged 
him ;  he  spoke  bitterly  of  the  'tzin.  I  could  scarcely  believe 
my  ears.  He  used  to  love  him.  What  has  happened  to 
change  his  feeling  1 " 

Acatlan  thrummed  her  pretty  mouth  with  her  fingers,  and 
thought  awhile. 

"  Yes,  I  have  heard  some  stories  about  the  'tzin  —  " 

"  Indeed  !  "  said  Tecalco,  opening  her  eyes. 

"  He  too  has  changed,  as  you  may  have  observed,"  con 
tinued  Acatlan.  "  He  used  to  be  gay  and  talkative,  fond  of 
company,  and  dance ;  latterly,  he  stays  at  home,  and  when 
abroad,  mopes,  and  is  silent;  while  we  all  know  that  no 
great  private  or  public  misfortune  has  happened  him.  The 
king  appears  to  have  noticed  it.  And,  my  dear  sister,"  — 
the  queen  lowered  her  voice  to  a  confidential  whisper,  — 
"  they  say  the  'tzin  aspires  to  the  throne." 

"  What !  "Do  you  believe  it  1  Does  the  king  ] "  cried 
Tecalco,  more  in  anger  than  surprise. 

"  I  believe  nothing  yet,  though  there  are  some  grounds 
for  his  accusers  to  go  upon.  They  say  he  entertains  at  his 
palace  near  Iztapalapan  none  but  men  of  the  army,  and  that 
while  in  Tenochtitlan,  he  studies  the  favor  of  the  people,  and 
uses  his  wealth  to  win  popularity  with  all  classes.  Indeed, 
5  « 


98  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


Tecalco,  somehow  the  king  learned  that,  on  the  day  of  the 
celebration  of  Quetzal',  the  'tzin  was  engaged  in  a  direct 
conspiracy  against  him." 

"  It  is  false,  Acatlan,  it  is  false !  The  king  has  not  a 
more  .faithful  subject.  I  know  the  'tzin.  He  is  worth  a 
thousand  of  the  Tezcucan,  who  is  himself  the  traitor."  And 
the  vexed  queen  beat  the  floor  with  her  sandalled  foot. 

"As  to  that,  Tecalco,  I  know  nothing.  But  what  more 
from  the  king  1 " 

"  He  told  me  that  Tula  should  never  marry  the  'tzin ;  he 
would  use  all  his  power  against  it ;  he  would  banish  him 
from  the  city  first.  And  his  rage  increased  until,  finally,  he 
swore  by  the  gods  he  would  order  a  banquet,  and,  in  pres 
ence  of  all  the  lords  of  the  Empire,  publicly  betroth  Tula  and 
the  Tezcucan.  He  said  he  would  do  anything  the  safety  of 
the  throne  and  the  gods  required  of  him.  He  never  was  so 
angry.  And  that,  O  Acatlan,  my  sister,  that  is  my  trouble. 
How  can  I  save  my  child  from  such  a  horrid  betrothal  1 " 

Acatlan  shook  her  head  gloomily.  "  The  king  brooks  de 
feat  better  than  opposition.  We  would  not  be  safe  to  do 
anything  openly.  I  acknowledge  myself  afraid,  and  unable 
to  advise  you." 

Tecalco  burst  into  tears,  and  wrung  her  hands,  overcome 
by  fear  and  rage.  To'  then  left  his  game,  and  came  to  her. 
He  was  not  handsome,  being  too  large  for  his  years,  and  un 
graceful  ;  this  tendency  to  homeliness  was  increased  by  the 
smallness  of  his  face  and  head  ;  the  features  were  actually 
childish. 

"  Say  no  more,  mother,"  he  said,  tears  standing  in  his 
eyes,  as  if  to  prove  his  sympathy  and  kindliness.  "  You 
know  it  would  be  better  to  play  with  the  tigers  than  stir  the 
king  to  anger." 

"Ah,  Io',  what  shall  I  do?  I  always  heard  you  speak 
well  of  the  'tzin.  You  loved  him  once." 


THE  BANISHMENT  OF  GUATAMOZIN.  99 

"And  I  love  him  yet." 

Tecalco  was  less  pacified  than  ever. 

"What  would  I  not  give  to  know  who  set  the  king  so 
against  him  !  Upon  the  traitor  be  the  harm  there  is  in  a 
mother's  curse  !  If  my  child  must  be  sacrificed,  let  it  be  by 
a  priest,  and  as  a  victim  to  the  gods." 

"  Do  not  speak  so.  Be  wise,  Tecalco.  Eecollect  such 
sorrows  belong  to  our  rank." 

"Our  rank,  Acatlan  !  I  can  forget  it  sooner  than  that  I 
am  a  mother  !  0,  you  do  not  know  how  long  I  have 
nursed  the  idea  of  wedding  Tula  to  the  'tzin  !  Since  their 
childhood  I  have  prayed,  plotted,  and  hoped  for  it.  With 
what  pride  I  have  seen  them  grow  up,  — -  he  so  brave,  gener 
ous,  and  princely,  she  so  staid  and  beautiful !  I  have  never 
allowed  her  to  think  of  other  destiny  :  the  gods  made  them 
for  each  other." 

"  Mother,"  said  Io',  thoughtfully,  "  I  have  heard  you  say 
that  Guatamozin  was  wise.  Why  not  send  him  word  of 
what  has  happened,  and  put  our  trust  in  him  1 " 

The  poor  queen  caught  at  the  suggestion  eagerly ;  for  with 
a  promise  of  aid,  at  the  saTne  time  it  relieved  her  of  responsi 
bility,  of  all  burthens  the  most  dreadful  to  a  woman.  And 
Acatlan,  really  desirous  of  helping  her  friend,  but  at  a 
loss  for  a  plan,  and  terrified  by  the  idea  of  the  monarch's 
wrath  incurred,  wondered  they  had  not  thought  of  the  pro 
posal  sooner,  and  urged  the  'tzin's  right  to  be  informed  of 
the  occurrence. 

"There  must  be  secrecy,  Tecalco.  The  king  must  never 
know  us  as  traitors  :  that  would  be  our  ruin." 

"  There  shall  be  no  danger ;  I  can  go  myself,"  said  Io'. 
•'  It  is  long  since  I  was  at  Iztapalapan,  and  they  say  the  'tzin 
has  such  beautiful  gardens.  I  want  to  see  the  three  kings 
who  hold  torches  in  his  hall;  I  want  to  try  a  bow  with 
hi™." 


100  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


After  some  entreaty,  Tecalco  assented.  She  required  him, 
however,  to  put  on  a  costume  less  likely  to  attract  attention, 
and  take  some  other  than  a  royal  canoe  across  the  lake. 
Half  an  hour  later,  he  passed  out  of  a  garden  gate,  and,  by 
a  circuitous  route,  hurried  to  the  canal  in  which  lay  the  ves 
sels  of  the  Iztapalapan  watermen.  He  found  one,  and  was 
bargaining  with  its  owner,  when  a  young  man  walked  briskly 
up,  and  stepped  into  a  canoe  close  by.  Something  in  the 
gay  dress  of  the  stranger  made  Io'  look  at  him  a  second 
time,  and  he  was  hardly  less  pleased  than  surprised  at  being 
addressed,  — 

"  Ho,  friend  !  I  am  going  to  your  city.  Save  your  cocoa, 
and  go  with  me." 

Io'  was  confused. 

"  Come  on  !  "  the  stranger  persisted,  with  a  pleasant  smile. 
"  Come  on !  I  want  company.  You  were  never  so  wel 
come." 

The  smile  decided  the  boy.  He  set  one  foot  in  the  vessel, 
but  instantly  retreated  —  an  ocelot,  crouched  in  the  bottom, 
raised  its  round  head,  and  stared  fixedly  at  him.  The 
stranger  laughed,  and  reassured  him,  after  which  he  walked 
boldly  forward.  Then  the  canoe  swung  from  its  mooring, 
and  in  a  few  minutes,  under  the  impulsion  of  three  strong 
slaves,  went  flying  down  the  canal.  Under  bridges,  through 
incoming  flotillas,  and  past  the  great  houses  on  either  hand 
they  darted,  until  the  city  was  left  behind,  and  the  lake, 
colored  with  the  borrowed  blue  of  the  sky,  spread  out  rich 
and  billowy  before  them.  The  eyes  of  the  stranger  bright 
ened  at  the  prospect. 

"I  like  this.  By  Our  Mother,  I  like  it ! "  he  said,  ear 
nestly.  "  We  have  lakes  in  Tihuanco  on  which  I  have  spent 
days  riding  waves  and  spearing  fish ;  but  they  were  dull  to 
this.  See  the  stretch  of  the  water !  Look  yonder  at  the 
villages,  and  here  at  the  city  and  Chapultepec  !  Ah,  that 


THE  BANISHMENT  OF   GUATAMOZIN.  101 

you  were   born   in  Tenochtitlan   be   proud.      There  is  no 
grander  birthplace  this  side  of  the  Sun !  " 

"  I  am  an  Aztec,"  said  Io',  moved  by  the  words. 

The  other  smiled,  and  added,  "  Why  not  go  farther,  and 
say,  '  and  son  of  the  king  ? '  " 

Io'  was  startled. 

"  Surprised  !  Good  prince,  I  am  a  hunter.  From  habit,  I 
observe  everything ;  a  track,  a  tree,  a  place,  once  seen  is  never 
forgotten ;  and  since  I  came  to  the  city,  the  night  before  the 
combat  of  Quetzal',  the  habit  has  not  left  me.  That  day 
you  were  seated  under  the  red  canopy,  with  the  princesses 
Tula  and  Nenetzin.  So  I  came  to  know  the  king's  son." 

"  Then  you  saw  the  combat  ?  " 

"  And  how  brave  it  was  !  There  never  was  its  match,  — 
never  such  archery  as  the  'tzin's.  Then  the  blow  with  which 
he  killed  the  Othmi !  I  only  regretted  that  the  Tezcucan 
escaped.  I  do  not  like  him  ;  he  is  envious  and  spiteful ;  it 
would  have  been  better  had  he  fallen  instead  of  the  Otompan. 
You  know  Iztlil'  1 " 

"  Not  to  love  him,"  said  Io'. 

"Ishelikethe'tzin?" 

"  Not  at  all." 

"  So  I  have  heard,"  said  the  hunter,  shrugging  his  shoul 
ders.  "  But  —  Down,  fellow  !  "  he  cried  to  the  ocelot,  whose 
approaches  discomposed  the  prince.  "  I  was  going  to  say," 
he  resumed,  with  a  look  which,  as  an  invitation  to  confidence, 
was  irresistible,  "  that  there  is  no  reason  why  you  and  I 
should  not  be  friends.  We  are  both  going  to  see  the 
'tzin  — " 

Io'  was  again  much  confused. 

"  I  only  heard  you  say  so  to  the  waterman  on  the  landing. 
If  your  visit,  good  prince,  was  intended  as  a  secret,  you  are 
a  careless  messenger.  But  have  no  fear.  I  intend  entering 
tiie  'tzin's  service ;  that  is,  if  he  will  take  me." 


102  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Is  the  'tzin  enlisting  men  ] "  asked  Io'. 

"  No.  I  am  merely  weary  of  hunting.  My  father  is  a 
good  merchant  whose  trading  life  is  too  tame  for  me.  I  love 
excitement.  Even  hunting  deer  and  chasing  wolves  are  too 
tame.  I  will  now  try  war,  and  there  is  but  one  whom  I 
care  to  follow.  Together  we  will  see  and  talk  to  him." 

"  You  speak  as  if  you  were  used  to  arms." 

"  My  skill  may  be  counted  nothing.  I  seek  the  service 
more  from  what  I  imagine  it  to  be.  The  march,  the  camp, 
the  battle,  the  taking  captives,  the  perilling  life,  when  it  is 
but  a  secondary  object,  as  it  must  be  with  every  warrior  of 
true  ambition,  all  have  charms  for  my  fancy.  Besides,  I  am 
discontented  with  my  condition.  I  want  honor,  rank,  and 
command,  - —  wealth  I  have.  Hence,  for  me,  the  army  is  the 
surest  road.  Beset  with  trials,  and  needing  a  good  heart 
and  arm,  yet  it  travels  upward,  upward,  and  that  is  all  I 
seek  to  know." 

The  naivete  and  enthusiasm  of  the  hunter  were  new  au<l 
charming  to  the  prince,  who  was  impelled  to  study  him  once 
more.  He  noticed  how  exactly  the  arms  were  rounded  ; 
that  the  neck  was  long,  muscular,  and  widened  at  the  barso, 
like  the  trunk  of  an  oak ;  that  the  features,  excited  by  the 
passing  feeling,  were  noble  and  good ;  that  the  very  carriage 
of  the  head  was  significant  of  aptitude  for  brave  things, 
if  not  command.  Could  the  better  gods  have  thrown  Io'  in 
such  company  for  self-comparison  ]  Was  that  the  time  they 
had  chosen  to  wake  within  him  the  longings  of  mind  nat 
ural  -to  coming  manhood  1  He  felt  the  inspiration  of  an 
idea  new  to  him.  All  his  life  had  been  passed  in  the  splen 
did  monotony  of  his  father's  palace ;  he  had  been  permitted 
merely  to  hear  of  war,  and  that  from  a  distance ;  of  the 
noble  passion  for  arms  he  knew  nothing.  Accustomed  to 
childish  wants,  with  authority  to  gratify  them,  ambition  for 
power  had  not  yet  disturbed  him.  But,  as  he  listened,  it 


GUATAMOZIN  AT  HOME.  103 

was  given  him  to  see  the  emptiness  of  his  past  life,  and 
understand  the  advantages  he  already  possessed ;  he  said 
to  himself,  "  Am  I  not  master  of  grade  and  opportunities, 
so  coveted  by  this  unknown  hunter,  and  so  far  above  his 
reach  ?  "  In  that  moment  the  contentment  which  had  cano 
pied  his  existence,  like  a  calm  sky,  full  of  stars  and  silence 
and  peace,  was  taken  up,  and  whirled  away ;  his  spirit 
strengthened  with  a  rising  ambition  and  a  courage  royally 
descended. 

"  You  are  going  to  study  with  the  'tzin.  I  would  like  to 
be  your  comrade,"  he  said. 

"  I  accept  you,  I  give  you  my  heart ! "  replied  the 
hunter,  with  beaming  face.  "  We  will  march,  and  sleep,  and 
fight,  and  practise  together.  I  will  be  true  to  you  as  shield 
to  the  warrior.  Hereafter,  0  prince,  when  you  would  speak 
of  me,  call  me  Hualpa ;  and  if  you  would  make  me  happy, 
say  of  me,  '  He  is  my  comrade  ! ' ' 

The  sun  stood  high  in  the  heavens  when  they  reached 
the  landing.  Mounting  a  few  steps  that  led  from  the 
water's  edge,  they  found  themselves  in  a  garden  rich  with 
flowers,  beautiful  trees,  running  streams,  and  trellised  sum 
mer-houses,  —  the  garden  of  a  prince,  —  of  Guatamozin,  the 
true  hero  of  his  country. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

GUATAMOZIN    AT    HOME. 

UATAMOZIN  inherited  a  great  fortune,  ducal  rank, 
and  an  estate  near  Iztapalapan.  Outside  the  city, 
midst  a  garden  that  extended  for  miles  around,  stood  his 
palace,  built  in  the  prevalent  style,  one  story  high,  but  broad 


104  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


and  wide  enough  to  comfortably  accommodate  several  thou 
sand  men.  His  retainers,  a  legion  in  themselves,  inhabited 
it  for  the  most  part ;  and  whether  soldier,  artisan,  or  fanner, 
each  had  his  quarters,  his  exclusive  possession  as  against 
every  one  but  the  'tzin. 

The  garden  was  almost  entirely  devoted  to  the  cultivation 
of  fruits  and  flowers.  Hundreds  of  slaves,  toiling  there 
constantly  under  tasteful  supervision,  made  and  kept  it 
beautiful  past  description.  Eivulets  of  pure  water,  spanned 
by  bridges  and  bordered  with  flowers,  ran  through  every 
part  over  beds  of  sand  yellow  as  gold.  The  patlis  fre 
quently  led  to  artificial  lagoons,  delightful  for  the  coolness 
that  lingered  about  them,  when  the  sun  looked  with  his 
burning  eye  down  upon  the  valley ;  for  they  were  fringed 
with  willow  and  sycamore  trees,  all  clad  with  vines  as  with 
garments ;  and  some  were  further  garnished  with  little 
islands,  plumed  with  palms,  and  made  attractive  by  kiosks. 
Nor  were  these  all.  Fountains  and  cascades  filled  the  air 
with  sleepy  songs ;  orange-groves  rose  up,  testifying  to  the 
clime  they  adorned ;  and  in  every  path  small  teules,  on 
pedestals  of  stone,  so  mingled  religion  with  the  loveliness 
that  there  could  be  no  admiration  without  worship. 

Io'  and  Hualpa,  marvelling  at  the  beauty  they  beheld, 
pursued  a  path,  strewn  with  white  sand,  and  leading  across 
the  garden,  to  the  palace.  A  few  armed  men  loitered  about 
the  portal,  but  allowed  them  to  approach  without  question. 
From  the  antechamber  they  sent  their  names  to  the  'tzin, 
and  directly  the  slave  returned  with  word  to  Io'  to  follow 
him. 

The  study  into  which  the  prince  was  presently  shown  was 
furnished  with  severe  plainness.  An  arm-chair,  if  such  it 
may  be  called,  some  rude  tables  and  uncusliioned  benches, 
offered  small  encouragement  to  idleness. 

Sand,  glittering  like  crushed  crystal,  covered  the  floor, 


GUATAMOZIN  AT  HOME.  105 

and,  instead  of  tapestry,  the  walls  were  hung  with  maps  of 
the  Empire,  and  provinces  the  most  distant.  Several  piles 
of  MSS.,  — the  books  of  the  Aztecs,  —  with  parchment  and 
writing-materials,  lay  on  a  table ;  and  half  concealed  amongst 
them  was  a  harp,  such  as  we  have  seen  in  the  hands  of  the 
royal  minstrels. 

"  Welcome,  Io',  welcome  !  "  said  the  'tzin,  in  his  full  voice. 
"  You  have  come  at  length,  after  so  many  promises,  — . 
come  last  of  all  my  friends.  When  you  were  here  before, 
you  were  a  child,  and  I  a  boy  like  you  now.  Let  us  go  and 
talk  it  over."  And  leading  him  to  a  bench  by  a  window, 
they  sat  down. 

"  I  remember  the  visit,"  said  Io'.  "  It  was  many  years 
ago.  You  were  studying  then,  and  I  find  you  studying  yet." 

A  serious  thought  rose  to  the  'tzin's  mind,  and  his  smile 
was  clouded. 

"  You  do  not  understand  me,  Io'.  Shut  up  in  your  father's 
palace,  your  life  is  passing  too  dreamily.  The  days  with 
you  are  like  waves  of  the  lake  :  one  rolls  up,  and,  scarcely 
murmuring,  breaks  on  the  shore  ;  another  succeeds,  —  that 
is  all.  Hear,  and  believe  me.  He  who  would  be  wise 
must  study.  There  are  many  who  live  for  themselves,  a 
few  who  live  for  their  race.  Of  the  first  class,  no  thought 
is  required ;  they  eat,  sleep,  are  merry,  and  die,  and  have  no 
hall  in  heaven  :  but  the  second  must  think,  toil,  and  be 
patient ;  they  must  know,  and,  if  possible,  know  everything. 
God  and  ourselves  are  the  only  sources  of  knowledge.  I 
would  not  have  you  despise  humanity,  but  all  that  is 
from  ourselves  is  soon  learned.  There  is  but  one  inex 
haustible  fountain  of  intelligence,  and  that  is  Nature,  the 
God  Supreme.  See  those  volumes ;  they  are  of  men,  full 
of  wisdom,  but  nothing  original ;  they  are  borrowed  from 
the  book  of  deity,  —  the  always-opened  book,  of  which  the 
sky  is  one  chapter,  and  earth  the  other.  Very  deep  are  the 


106  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


lessons  of  life  and  heaven  there  taught.  I  confess  to  you, 
Io',  that  I  aspire  to  be  of  those  whose  lives  are  void  of  self 
ishness,  who  live  for  others,  for  their  country.  Your  father's 
servant,  I  would  serve  him  understandingly ;  to  do  so,  I 
must  be  wise ;  and  I  cannot  be  wise  without  patient  study." 

lo's  unpractised  mind  but  half  understood  the  philosophy 
to  which  he  listened  ;  but  when  the  'tzin  called  himself  his 
father's  servant,  Acatlan's  words  recurred  to  the  boy. 

"  0  'tzin,"  he  said,  "  they  are  not  all  like  you,  so  good,  so 
true.  There  have  been  some  telling  strange  stories  about  you 
to  the  king." 

"About  me?" 

"  They  say  you  want  to  be  king,"  —  the  listener's  face 
was  passive,  —  "  and  that  on  Quetzal's  day  you  were  looking 
for  opportunity  to  attack  my  father."  Still  there  was  no  sign 
of  emotion.  "  Your  staying  at  home,  they  say,  is  but  a  pre 
tence  to  cover  your  designs." 

"  And  what  more,  Io'  ?  " 

"  They  say  you  are  taking  soldiers  into  your  pay  ;  that 
you  give  money,  and  practise  all  manner  of  arts,  to  become 
popular  in  Tenochtitlan  ;  and  that  your  delay  in  entering  the 
arena  on  the  day  of  the  combat  had  something  to  do  with 
your  conspiracy." 

For  a  moment  the  noble  countenance  of  the  'tzin  was  dis 
turbed. 

"  A  lying  catalogue  !     But  is  that  all  ?  " 

"  No,"  —  and  lo's  voice  trembled,  —  "I  am  a  secret  mes 
senger  from  the  queen  Tecalco,  my  mother.  She  bade  me 
say  to  you,  that  last  night  Iztlil',  the  Tezcucan,  had  audience 
with  the  king,  and  asked  Tula  for  his  wife." 

Guatamozin  sprang  from  his  seat  more  pallid  than  ever  in 
battle. 

"  And  what  said  Montezuma  ? " 

"  This  morning  he  came  to  the  queen,  my  mother,  and  told 


GUATAMOZIN  AT  HOME.  107 

her  about  it ;  on  your  account  she  objected  ;  but  he  became 
angry,  spoke  harshly  of  you,  and  swore  Tula  should  not  wed 
with  you ;  he  would  banish  you  first." 

Through  the  silent  cell  the  'tzin  strode  gloomily  ;  the  blow 
weakened  him.  Mualox  was  wrong ;  men  cannot  make  them 
selves  almost  gods ;  by  having  many  ills,  and  bearing  them 
bravely,  they  can  only  become  heroes.  After  a  long  struggle 
he  resumed  his  calmness  and  seat. 

"  What  more  from  the  queen  1 " 

"  Only,  that  as  she  was  helpless,  she  left  everything  to 
you.  She  dares  not  oppose  the  king." 

"  I  understand ! "  exclaimed  the  'tzin,  starting  from  the 
bench  again.  "  The  Tezcucan  is  my  enemy.  Crossing  the 
lake,  night  before  the  combat,  he  told  me  he  loved  Tula,  and 
charged  me  with  designs  against  the  Empire,  and  cursed  the 
king  and  his  crown.  Next  day  he  fought  under  my  chal 
lenge.  The  malice  of  a  mean  soul  cannot  be  allayed  by  kind 
ness.  But  for  me  the  tamanes  would  have  buried  him  with 
the  Tlascalans.  I  sent  him  to  my  house  ;  my  slaves  tended 
him  ;  yet  his  hate  was  only  sharpened." 

He  paced  the  floor  to  and  fro,  speaking  vehemently. 

"The  ingrate  charges  me  with  aspiring  to  the  throne.  Judge 
me,  holy  gods  !  Judge  how  willingly  I  would  lay  down  my 
life  to  keep  the  crown  where  it  is  !  He  says  my  palace  has 
been  open  to  men  of  the  army.  It  was  always  so,  —  I  am  a 
warrior.  I  have  consulted  them  about  the  Empire,  but 
always  as  a  subject,  never  for  its  ill.  Such  charges  I 
laugh  at ;  but  that  I  sought  to  slay  the  king  is  too  horrible 
for  endurance.  On  the  day  of  the  combat,  about  the  time  of 
the  assemblage,  I  went  to  the  Cu  of  Quetzal'  for  blessing.  I 
saw  no  smoke  or  other  sign  of  fire  upon  the  tower.  Mualox 
was  gone,  and  I  trembled  lest  the  fire  should  be  dead.  I 
climbed  up,  and  found  only  a  few  living  embers.  There 
were  no  fagots  on  the  roof,  nor  in  the  court-yard ;  the  shrine 


108  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


was  abandoned,  Mualox  old.  The  desolation  appealed  to 
me.  The  god  seemed  to  claim  my  service.  I  broke  my 
spear  and  shield,  and  flung  the  fragments  into  the  urn,  then 
hastened  to  the  palace,  loaded  some  tamanes  with  wood,  and 
went  back  to  the  Cu.  I  was  not  too  late  there  ;  but,  hurrying 
to  the  tianguez,  I  found  myself  almost  dishonored.  So  was 
I  kept  from  the  arena  ;  that  service  to  the  god  is  now  helping 
my  enemy  as  proof  that  I  was  waiting  on  a  housetop  to  mur 
der  my  king  and  kinsman  !  Alas  !  I  have  only  slaves  to  bear 
witness  to  the  holy  work,  that  kept  me  on  the  temple.  Much 
I  fear  the  gods  are  making  the  king  blind  for  his  ruin  and 
the  ruin  of  us  all.  He  believes  the  strangers  on  the  coast 
are  from  the  Sun,  when  they  are  but  men.  Instead  of  war 
against  them,  lie  is  thinking  of  embassies  and  presents.  Now, 
more  than  ever,  he  needs  the  support  of  friends ;  but  he  di 
vides  his  family  against  itself,  and  confers  favors  on  enemies. 
I  see  the  danger.  Unfriendly  gods  are  moving  against  us, 
not  in  the  strangers,  but  in  our  own  divisions.  Remember 
the  prophecy  of  Mualox,  '  The  race  of  Azatlan  is  ended  for 
ever.'  " 

The  speaker  stopped  his  walking,  and  his  voice  became 
low  and  tremulous. 

"  Yet  I  love  him ;  he  has  been  kind  ;  he  gave  me  com 
mand  ;  through  his  graciousness  I  have  dwelt  unmolested  in 
this  palace  of  my  father.  I  am  bound  to  him  by  love  and  law. 
As  he  has  been  my  friend,  I  will  be  his ;  when  his  peril  is 
greatest,  I  will  be  truest.  Nothing  but  ill  from  him  to  Ana- 
huac  can  make  me  his  enemy.  So,  so,  —  let  it  pass.  I  trust 
the  future  to  the  gods." 

Then,  as  if  seeking  to  rid  himself  of  the  bitter  subject,  he 
turned  to  Io'.  "  Did  not  some  one  come  with  you  ? " 

The  boy  told  what  he  knew  of  Hualpa. 

"  I  take  him  to  be  no  common  fellow  ;  he  has  some  proud 
ideas.  I  think  you  would  like  him." 


GUATAMOZIN  AT   HOME.  109 

"  I  will  try  your  hunter,  Io'.  And  if  he  is  what  you  say 
of  him,  I  will  accept  his  service." 

And  they  went  immediately  to  the  antechamber,  where 
Hualpa  saluted  the  'tzin.     The  latter  surveyed  his  fine  person 
approvingly,  and  said,  "  I  am  told  you  wish  to  enter  my  ser 
vice.     Were  you  ever  in  battle  1 " 
I    The  hunter  told  his  story  with  his  wonted  modesty. 

"  Well,  the  chase  is  a  good  school  for  warriors.  It  trains 
the  thews,  teaches  patience  and  endurance,  and  sharpens  the 
spirit's  edge.  Let  us  to  the  garden.  A  hand  to  retain 
skill  must  continue  its  practice  ;  like  a  good  memory,  it  is 
the  better  for  exercise.  Come,  and  I  will  show  you  how  I 
keep  prepared  for  every  emergency  of  combat."  And  so  say 
ing,  the  'tzin  led  the  visitors  out. 

They  went  to  the  garden,  followed  by  the  retainers  loung 
ing  at  the  door.  A  short  walk  brought  them  to  a  space  sur 
rounded  by  a  copse  of  orange-trees,  strewn  with  sand,  and 
broad  enough  for  a  mock  battle  ;  a  few  benches  about  the 
margin  afforded  accommodation  to  spectators ;  a  stone  house 
at  the  northern  end  served  for  armory,  and  was  full  of  arms 
and  armor.  A  glance  assured  the  visitors  that  the  place  had 
been  prepared  expressly  for  training.  Soiuo  score  or  more 
of  warriors,  in  the  military  livery  of  the  'tzin,  already  occu 
pied  a  portion  of  the  field.  Upon  his  appearance  they 
quitted  their  games,  and  closed  around  him  with  respectful 
salutations. 

"  How  now,  my  good  Chinantlan !  "  he  said,  pleasantly. 
u  Did  I  not  award  you  a  prize  yesterday  1  There  are  few  in 
the  valley  who  can  excel  you  in  launching  the  spear." 

"  The  plume  is  mine  no  longer,"  replied  the  warrior.  "  I 
was  beaten  last  night.  The  winner,  however,  is  a  country 
man." 

"  A  countryman  !  You  Chinantlans  seem  born  to  the 
spear.  Where  is  the  man  1 " 


110  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


The  victor  stepped  forward,  and  drew  up  before  the  mas 
ter,  who  regarded  his  brawny  limbs,  sinewy  neck,  and 
bold  eyes  with  undisguised  admiration ;  so  an  artist  would 
regard  a  picture  or  a  statue.  Above  the  fellow's  helm  floated 
a  plume  of  scarlet  feathers,  the  trophy  of  his  superior  skill. 

"  Get  your  spear,"  said  the  'tzin.  "  I  bring  you  a  com 
petitor." 

The  spear  was  brought,  an  ugly  weapon  in  any  hand.  The 
head  was  of  copper,  and  the  shaft  sixteen  feet  long.  The 
rough  Chinantlaii  handled  it  with  a  loving  grip. 

"  Have  you  such  in  Tihuanco  1 "  asked  Guatamozin. 

Hualpa  balanced  the  weapon  and  laughed. 

"We  have  only  javelins,  —  mere  reeds  to  this.  Unless 
to  hold  an  enemy  at  bay,  I  hardly  know  its  use.  Certainly, 
it  is  not  for  casting." 

"  Set  the  mark,  men.  We  will  give  the  stranger  a  lesson. 
Set  it  to  the  farthest  throw." 

A  pine  picket  was  then  set  up  a  hundred  feet  away,  pre 
senting  a  target  of  the  height  and  breadth  of  a  man,  to 
which  a  shield  was  bolted  breast-high  from  the  sand. 

"  Now  give  the  Chinantlan  room ! " 

The  wearer  of  the  plume  took  his  place ;  advancing  one 
foot,  he  lifted  the  spear  above  his  head  with  the  right  hand, 
poised  it  a  moment,  then  hurled  it  from  him,  and  struck  the 
picket  a  palm's  breadth  below  the  shield. 

"  Out,  out !  "  cried  the  'tzin.  "  Bring  me  the  spear ;  I 
have  a  mind  to  wear  the  plume  myself." 

When  it  was  brought  him,  he  cast  it  lightly  as  a  child 
would  toss  a  weed ;  yet  the  point  drove  clanging  through  the 
brazen  base  of  the  shield,  and  into  the  picket  behind.  Amid 
the  applause  of  the  sturdy  warriors  he  said  to  Hualpa,  — 

"  Get  ready  ;  the  hunter  must  do  something  for  the  honor 
of  his  native  hills." 

"  I  cannot  use  a  spear  in  competition  with  Guatamozin,'1 


GUATAMOZIN  AT  HOME.  Ill 

said  Hualpa,  with  brightening  eyes ;  "  but  if  he  will  have 
brought  a  javelin,  a  good  comely  weapon,  I  will  show  him 
my  practice." 

A  slender-shafted  missile,  about  half  the  length  of  the 
spear,  was  produced  from  tho  armory,  and  examined  care 
fully. 

"  See,  good  'tzin,  it  is  not  true.     Let  me  have  another." 

The  next  one  was  to  his  satisfaction. 

"  Now,"  he  said,  "  set  the  target  thrice  a  hundred  feet 
away.  If  the  dainty  living  of  Xoli  have  not  weakened  my 
arm,  I  will  at  least  strike  yon  shield." 

The  bystanders  looked  at  each  other  wonderingly,  and  the 
'tzin  was  pleased.  He  had  not  lost  a  word  or  a  motion  of 
Hualpa's.  The  feat  undertaken  was  difficult  and  but  seldom 
achieved  successfully  ;  but  the  aspirant  was  confident,  and 
he  manifested  the  will  to  which  all  achievable  things  are 
possible. 

The  target  was  reset,  and  the  Tihuancan  took  the  stand. 
Besting  the  shaft  on  the  palm  of  his  left  hand,  he  placed  the 
fingers  of  his  right  against  the  butt,  and  drew  the  graceful 
weapon  arm-length  backward.  It  described  an  arc  in  the 
air,  and  to  the  astonishment  of  all  fell  in  the  shield  a  little 
left  of  the  centre. 

"Tell  me,  Hualpa,"  said  Guatamozin,  "are  there  more 
hunters  in  Tihuanco  who  can  do  such  a  deed  1  I  will  have 
you  bring  them  to  me." 

The  Tihuancan  lowered  his  eyes.  "  I  grieve  to  say,  good 
'tzin,  that  I  know  of  none.  I  excelled  them  all.  But  I  can 
promise  that  in  my  native  province  there  are  hundreds  braver 
than  I,  ready  to  serve  you  to  the  death." 

"  Well,  it  is  enough.  I  intended  to  try  you  further,  and 
with  other  weapons,  but  not  now.  He  who  can  so  wield  a 
javelin  must  know  to  bend  a  bow  and  strike  with  a  maquct- 
kuitl.  I  accept  your  service..  Let  us  to  the  palace." 


112  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


Hualpa  thrilled  with  delight.  Already  he  felt  himself  in 
the  warrior's  path,  with  a  glory  won.  All  his  dreams  were 
about  to  he  realized.  In  respectful  silence  he  followed  Guata- 
mozin,  and  as  they  reached  the  portal  steps,  Io'  touched  his 
arm  : 

"  Eemember  our  compact  on  the  lake,"  he  whispered. 

The.  hunter  put  his  arm  lovingly  about  the  prince,  and  so 
they  entered  the  house.  And  that  day  Fate  wove  a  brother 
hood  of  three  hearts  which  was  broken  only  by  death. 


CHAPTEE  V. 

NIGHT   AT   THE    CHALCAN's. 

THE  same  day,  in  the  evening,  Xoli  lay  on  a  lounge  by 
the  fountain  under  his  portico.  His  position  gave 
him  the  range  of  the  rooms,  which  glowed  like  day,  and 
resounded  with  life.  He  could  even  distinguish  the  occupa 
tions  of  some  of  his  guests.  In  fair  view  a  group  was  lis 
tening  to  a  minstrel ;  beyond  them  he  occasionally  caught 
sight  of  girls  dancing ;  and  every  moment  peals  of  laughter 
floated  out  from  the  chambers  of  play.  A  number  of  per 
sons,  whose  arms  and  attire  published  them  of  the  nobler 
class,  sat  around  the  Chalcan  in  the  screen  of  the  curtains, 
conversing,  or  listlessly  gazing  out  on  the  square. 

Gradually  Xoli's  revery  became  more  dreamy ;  sleep  stole 
upon  his  senses,  and  shut  out  the  lullaby  of  the  fountain, 
and  drowned  the  influence  of  his  ciiisine.  His  patrons  after 
a  while  disappeared,  and  the  watchers  on  the  temples  told  the 
passing  time  without  awakening  him.  Very  happy  was  the 
Chalcan. 

The  slumber  was  yet  strong  upon  him,  when  an  old  man 


NIGHT  AT  THE   CHALCAN'S.  113 

and  a  girl  came  to  the  portico.  The  former,  decrepit  and 
ragged,  seated  himself  on  the  step.  Scanty  hair  hung  in 
white  locks  over  his  face  ;  and  grasping  a  staff,  he  rested  his 
head  wearily  upon  his  hands,  and  talked  to  himself. 

The  girl  approached  the  Chalcan  with  the  muffled  tread  of 
fear.  She  was  clad  in  the  usual  dress  of  her  class,  —  a 
white  chemise,  with  several  skirts  short  and  embroidered,  over 
which,  after  being  crossed  at  the  throat,  a  red  scarf  dropped 
its  tasseled  ends  nearly  to  her  heels.  The  neatness  of  the 
garments  more  than  offset  their  cheapness.  Above  her  fore 
head,  in  the  fillet  that  held  the  mass  of  black  hair  off  her  face, 
leaving  it  fully  exposed,  there  was  the  gleam  of  a  common 
jewel ;  otherwise  she  was  without  ornament.  In  all  beauty 
there  is  —  nay,  must  be  — •  an  idea ;  so  that  a  countenance 
to  be  handsome  even,  must  in  some  way  at  sight  quicken  a 
sentiment  or  stir  a  memory  in  the  beholder.  It  was  so  here. 
To  look  at  the  old  man's  guardian  was  to  know  that  she  had 
a  sorrow  to  tell,  and  to  pity  her  before  it  was  told ;  to  be 
sure  that  under  her  tremulous  anxiety  there  was  a  darksome 
story  and  an  extraordinary  purpose,  the  signs  of  which,  too 
fine  for  the  materialism  of  words,  but  plain  to  the  sympa 
thetic  inner  consciousness,  lurked  in  the  corners  of  her 
mouth,  looked  from  her  great  black  eyes,  and  blent  with 
every  action. 

Gliding  over  the  marble,  she  stopped  behind  the  sleeper, 
and  spoke,  without  awakening  him ;  her  voice  was  too 
like  the  murmur  of  the  fountain.  Frightened  at  the 
words,  low  as  they  were,  she  hesitated ;  but  a  look  at 
the  old  man  reassured  her,  and  she  called  again.  Xoli 
started. 

"  How  now,  mistress  !  "  he  said,  angrily,  reaching  for  her 
hand. 

"I  want  to  see  Xoli,  the  Chalcan,"  she  replied,  escaping 
his  touch. 

H 


114  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  What  have  you  to  do  with  him  1 " 

He  sat  up,  and  looked  at  her  in  wonder. 

"  What  have  you  to  do  with  him  1 "  he  repeated,  in  a 
kindlier  tone. 

Her  face  kindled  with  a  sudden  intelligence.  "  Xoli ! 
The  gods  be  praised  !  And  their  blessing  on  you,  if  you 
will  do  a  kind  deed  for  a  countryman  ! " 

"  Well  !  But  what  beggar  is  that  1  Came  he  with 
you?" 

"  It  is  of  him  I  would  speak.  Hear  me ! "  she  asked, 
drawing  near  him  again.  "  He  is  poor,  but  a  Chalcan.  If 
you  have  memory  of  the  city  of  your  birth,  be  merciful  to 
his  child." 

"  His  child !  Who  1  Nay,  it  is  a  beggar's  tale  !  Ho, 
fellow  !  How  many  tunes  have  I  driven  you  away  already  ! 
How  dare  you  return  !  " 

Slowly  the  old  man  raised  his  head  from  his  staff,  and 
turned  Ms  face  to  the  speaker ;  there  was  no  light  there :  he 
was  blind ! 

"  By  the  holy  fires,  no  trick  this  !  Say  on,  girl.  He  is  a 
Chalcan,  you  said." 

"  A  countryman  of  yours,"  —  and  her  tears  fell  fast.  "  A 
hut  is  standing  where  the  causeway  leads  from  Chalco  to 
Iztapalapan ;  it  is  my  father's.  He  was  happy  under  its 
roof;  for,  though  blind  and  poor,  he  could  hear  my  mother's 
voice,  which  was  the  kindliest  thing  on  earth  to  him.  But 
Our  Mother  called  her  on  the  coming  of  a  bright  morning, 
and  since  then  he  has  asked  for  bread,  when  I  had  not  a 
tuna  *  to  give  him.  0  Xoli !  did  you  but  know  what  it 
is  to  ask  for  bread,  when  there  is  none !  I  am  his  child, 
and  can  think  of  but  one  way  to  quiet  his  cry."  And  she 
paused,  looking  in  his  face  for  encouragement. 

"  Tell  me  your   name,  girl ;   tell   me   your   name,  then 

*  A  species  of  fig. 


NIGHT  AT  THE  CHALCAN'S.  115 

go   on,"   he   said,  with   a   trembling  lip,  for  his  soul  was 
clever. 

At  that  instant  the  old  man  moaned  querulously,  "  Yeteve, 
Yeteve  !  " 

She  went,  and  clasped  his  neck,  and  spoke  to  him  sooth 
ingly.  Xoli's  eyes  became  humid ;  down  in  the  depths  of 
his  heart  an  emotion  grew  strangely  warm. 

"  Yeteve,  Yeteve  !  "  he  repeated,  musingly,  thinking  the 
syllables  soft  and  pretty.  "  Come  ;  stand  here  again, 
Yeteve,"  said  he,  aloud,  when  the  dotard  was  pacified. 
"  He  wants  bread,  you  say  :  how  would  you  supply  him  1 " 

"You  are  rich.  You  Avant  many  slaves ;  and  the  law 
permits  the  poor  to  sell  themselves.*  I  would  be  your 
slave,  —  asking  no  price,  except  that  you  give  the  beggar 
bread." 

"  A  slave  !  Sell  yourself !  "  he  cried,  in  dismay.  "  A 
slave !  Why,  you  are  beautiful,  Yeteve,  and  have  not  be 
thought  yourself  that  some  day  the  gods  may  want  you  for 
a  victim." 

She  was  silent. 

"  What  can  you  do  1  Dance  1  Sing  1  Can  you  weave  soft 
veils  and  embroider  golden  flowers,  like  ladies  in  the  pal 
aces  ?  If  you  can,  no  slave  in  Anahuac  will  be  so  peerless  ; 
the  lords  will  bid  more  cocoa  than  you  can  carry ;  you  will 
be  rich." 

"  If  so,  then  can  I  do  all  you  have  said." 

And  she  ran,  and  embraced  the  old  man,  saying,  "  Patience, 
patience !  In  a  little  while  we  will  have  bread,  and  be 
rich.  Yes,"  she  continued,  returning  to  the  Chalcan,  "  they 
taught  me  in  the  teocallis,  where  they  would  have  had  me  as 
priestess." 

"  It  is  good  to  be  a  priestess,  Yeteve  ;  you  should  have 
stayed  there." 

*  Presoott,  Conq.  of  Mexico. 


116  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  But  I  did  so  love  the  little  hut  by  the  causeway.  And 
I  loved  the  beggar,  and  they  let  me  go." 

"  And  now  .you  wish  to  sell  yourself  ]  I  want  slaves,  but 
not  such  as  you,  Yeteve.  I  want  those  who  can  work,  — 
slaves  whom  the  lash  will  hurt,  but  not  kill.  Besides,  you 
are  worth  more  cocoa  than  I  can  spare.  Keep  back  your 
tears.  I  will  do  better  than  buy  you  myself.  I  will  sell 
you,  and  to-night.  Here  in  my  house  you  shall  dance  for 
the  bidders.  I  know  them  all.  He  shall  be  brave  and  rich 
and  clever  who  buys,  —  clever  and  brave,  and  the  owner  of 
a  palace,  full  of  bread  for  the  beggar,  and  love  for  Yeteve." 

Clapping  his  hands,  a  slave  appeared  at  the  door. 

"  Take  yon  beggar,  and  give  him  to  eat.  Lead  him,  —  he 
is  blind.  Come,  child,  follow  me." 

He  summoned  his  servants,  and  bade  them  publish  the 
sale  in  every  apartment ;  then  he  led  the  girl  to  the  hall 
used  for  the  exhibition  of  his  own  dancing-girls.  It  was 
roomy  and  finely  lighted ;  the  floor  was  of  polished  marble ; 
a  blue  drop-curtain  extended  across  the  northern  end,  in 
front  of  which  were  rows  of  stools,  handsomely  cushioned, 
for  spectators.  Music,  measured  for  the  dance,  greeted  the 
poor  priestess,  and  had  a  magical  effect  upon  her ;  her  eyes 
brightened,  a  smile  played  about  her  mouth.  Never  was 
the  chamber  of  the  rich  Chalcan  graced  by  a  creature  fairer 
or  more  devoted. 

"  A  priestess  of  the  dance  needs  no  teaching  from  me,"  said 
Xoli,  patting  her  flushed  cheek.  "  Get  ready ;  they  are  com 
ing.  Beware  of  the  marble ;  and  when  I  clap  my  hands,  begin." 

She  looked  around  the  hall  once  ;  not  a  point  escaped 
her.  Springing  to  the  great  curtain,  and  throwing  her  robe 
away,  she  stood  before  it  in  her  simple  attire  ;  and  no  studied 
effect  of  art  could  have  been  more  beautiful ;  motionless  and 
lovely,  against  the  relief  of  the  blue  background,  she  seemed 
actually  spirituelle. 


NIGHT  AT   THE  CHALCAN'S.  117 

Upon  the  announcement  of  the  auction,  the  patrons  of  the 
house  hurried  to  the  scene.  Voluntary  renunciation  of 
freedom  was  common  enough  among  the  poorer  classes  in 
Tenochtitlan,  but  a  transaction  of  the  kind  under  the  auspices 
of  the  rich  broker  was  a  novelty ;  so  that  curiosity  and 
expectation  ran  high.  The  nobles,  as  they  arrived,  occupied 
the  space  in  front  of  the  curtain,  or  seated  themselves, 
marvelling  at  the  expression  of  her  countenance. 

The  music  had  not  ceased  ;  and  the  bidders  being  gath 
ered,  Xoli,  smiling  with  satisfaction,  stepped  forward  to  give 
the  signal,  when  an  uproar  of  merriment  announced  the 
arrival  of  a  party  of  the  younger  dignitaries  of  the  court,  — 
amongst  them  IztliT,  the  Tezcucan,  and  Maxtla,  chief  of  the 
guard,  the  former  showing  signs  of  quick  recovery  from  his 
wounds,  the  latter  superbly  attired. 

"  Hold  !  What  have  we  here  1 "  cried  the  Tezcucan,  sur 
veying  the  girl.  "  Has  this  son  of  Chalco  been  robbing  the 
palace  1 " 

"  The  temples,  my  lord  IztliT  !  He  has  robbed  the  tem 
ples  !  By  all  the  gods,  it  is  the  priestess  Yeteve  !  "  answered 
Maxtla,  amazed.  "  Say,  Chalcan,  what  does  priestess  of  the 
Blessed  Lady  in  such  unhallowed  den  1 " 

The  broker  explained. 

"  Good,  good  ! "  shouted  the  new-comers. 

"  Begin,  Xoli !  A  thousand  cocoa  for  the  priestess,  — 
millions  of  bread  for  the  beggar  !  "  This  from  Maxtla. 

"  Only  a  thousand  1 "  said  IztliT,  scornfully.  "  Only  a 
thousand]  Five  thousand  to  begin  with,  more  after  she 
dances." 

Xoli  gave  the  signal,  and  the  soul  of  the  Chalcan  girl 
broke  forth  in  motion.  Dancing  had  been  her  rdle  in  the 
religious  rites  of  the  temple  ;  many  a  time  the  pabas  around 
the  altar,  allured  by  her  matchless  grace,  had  turned  from 
the  bleeding  heart  indifferent  to  its  auguration.  And  she 


118  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


had  always  danced  moved  by  110  warmer  impulse  than  duty  j 
so  that  the  prompting  of  the  spirit  in  the  presence  of  a 
strange  auditory  free  to  express  itself,  like  that  she  now 
.faced,  came  to  her  for  the  first  time.  The  dance  chosen  was 
one  of  the  wild,  quick,  pulsating  figures  wont  to  be  given  in 
thanksgiving  for  favorable  tokens  from  the  deity.  The  steps 
were  irregular  and  difficult ;  a  great  variety  of  posturing  was 
required ;  the  head,  arms,  and  feet  had  each  their  parts,  all 
to  be  rendered  in  harmony.  At  the  commencement  she  was 
frightened  by  the  ecstasy  that  possessed  her ;  suddenly  the 
crowd  vanished,  and  she  saw  only  the  beggar,  and  him 
wanting  bread.  Then  her  form  became  divinely  gifted  ;  she 
bounded  as  if  winged ;  advanced  and  retreated,  a  moment 
swaying  like  a  reed,  the  next  whirling  like  a  leaf  in  a  circling 
wind.  The  expression  of  her  countenance  throughout  was 
so  full  of  soul,  so  intense,  rapt,  and  beautiful,  that  the 
lords  were  spell-bound.  When  the  figure  was  ended,  there 
was  an  outburst  of  voices,  some  bidding,  others  applauding ; 
though  most  of  the  spectators  were  silent  from  pity  and 
admiration. 

Of  the  competitors  the  loudest  was  IztliT.  In  his  excite 
ment,  he  would  have  sacrificed  his  province  to  become  the 
owner  of  the  girl.  Maxtla  opposed  him. 

"  Five  thousand  cocoa  !  Hear,  Chalcan ! "  shouted  the 
Tezcucan. 

"  A  thousand  better ! "  answered  Maxtla,  laughing  at  the 
cacique's  rage. 

"  By  all  the  gods,  I  will  have  her !  Put  me  down  a 
thousand  quills  of  gold  ! " 

"  A  thousand  quills  above  him !  Not  bread,  but  riches 
for  the  beggar !  "  replied  Maxtla,  half  in  derision. 

"  Two  thousand,  —  only  two  thousand  quills  !  More, 
noble  lords  !  She  is  worth  a  palace  ! "  sung  Xoli,  trembling 
with  excitement ;  for  in  such  large  bids  he  saw  an  extra- 


NIGHT  AT  THE  CHALCAN'S.  119 

ordinary  loan.  Just  then,  under  the  parted  curtain  of  the 
principal  doorway,  he  beheld  one  dear  to  every  lover  of 
Tenochtitlan ;  he  stopped.  All  eyes  turned  in  that  direction, 
and  a  general  exclamation  followed,  —  "  The  'tzin,  the  'tzin  ! " 

Guatamozin  was  in  full  military  garb,  and  armed.  As  he 
lingered  by  the  door  to  comprehend  the  scene,  what  with  his 
height,  brassy  helm,  and  embossed  shield,  he  looked  like  a 
Greek  returned  from  Troy. 

"  Yeteve,  the  priestess  !  "  he  said.     "  Impossible  !  " 

He  strode  to  the  front. 

"  How  1 "  he  said,  placing  his  hand  on  her  head.  "  Has 
Yeteve  flown  the  temple  to  become  a  slave  ? " 

Up  to  this  time,  it  would  seem  that,  in  the  fixedness  of 
her  purpose,  she  had  been  blind  to  all  but  the  beggar,  and 
deaf  to  everything  but  the  music.  Now  she  knelt  at  the 
feet  of  the  noble  Aztec,  sobbing  broken-heartedly.  The 
spectators  were  moved  with  sympathy,  —  all  save  one. 

"  Who  stays  the  sale  1  By  all  the  gods,  Chalcan,  you  shall 
proceed ! " 

Scarcely  had  the  words  been  spoken,  or  the  duller  facul 
ties  understood  them,  before  Guatamozin  confronted  the 
speaker,  his  javelin  drawn,  and  his  shield  in  readiness. 
Naturally  his  countenance  was  womanly  gentle ;  but  the 
transition  of  feeling  was  mighty,  and  those  looking  upon  him 
then  shrank  with  dread  ;  it  was  as  if  their  calm  blue  lake 
had  in  an  instant  darkened  with  storm.  Face  to  face  he 
stood  with  the  Tezcucan,  the  latter  unprepared  for  combat, 
but  in  nowise  daunted.  In  their  angry  attitude  a  seer 
might  have  read  the  destiny  of  Anahuac. 

One  thrust  of  the  javelin  would  have  sent  the  traitor  to 
Mictlan ;  the  Empire,  as  well  as  the  wrongs  of  the  lover, 
called  for  it ;  but  before  the  veterans,  recovering  from  their 
panic,  could  rush  between  the  foemen,  all  the  'tzin's  calmness 
returned. 


120  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

"  Xoli,"  he  said,  "  a  priestess  belongs  to  the  temple,  and 
cannot  be  sold  ;  such  is  the  law.  The  sale  would  have  ser.fc 
your  heart,  and  that  of  her  purchaser,  to  the  Blessed 
Lady.  Eemove  the  girl.  I  will  see  that  she  is  taken 
to  a  place  of  safety.  Here  is  gold  ;  give  .the  beggar  what  ho 
wants,  and  keep  him  until  to-morrow.  —  And,  my  lords  and 
brethren,"  he  added,  turning  to  the  company,  "  I  did  not 
think  to  behave  so  unseemly.  It  is  only  against  the  enemies 
of  our  country  that  we  should  turn  our  arms.  Blood  is 
sacred,  and  accursed  is  his  hand  who  sheds  that  of  a  coun 
tryman  in  petty  quarrel.  I  pray  you,  forget  all  that  has 
passed."  And  with  a  low  obeisance  to  them,  he  walked 
away,  taking  with  him  the  possibility  of  further  rencounter. 

He  had  just  arrived  from  his  palace  at  Iztapalapan. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  CHINAMPA. 

BETWEEN  Tula,  the  child  of  Tecalco,  and  Nenetzin, 
daughter  and  child  of  Acatlan,  there  existed  a  sisterly 
affection.  The  same  sports  had  engaged  them,  and  they  had 
been,  and  yet  were,  inseparable.  Their  mothers,  themselves 
friends,  encouraged  the  intimacy ;  and  so  their  past  lives  had 
vanished,  like  two  summer  clouds  borne  away  by  a  soft  south 
Vvind. 

The  evening  after  Iztlil's  overture  of  marriage  was  deepen 
ing  over  lake  Tezcuco  ;  the  breeze  became  murmurous  and 
like  a  breath,  and  all  the  heavens  filled  with  starlight.  Cloud 
less  must  be  the  morrow  to  such  a  night ! 

So  thought  the  princess  Tula.  "Won  by  the  beauty  of  the 
evening,  she  had  flown  from  the  city  to  her  chinampa,  which 


THE  CHINAMPA.  121 


was  tying  anchored  in  a  quarter  of  the  lake  east  of  the  cause 
way  to  Tepejaca,  beyond  the  noise  of  the  town,  and  where 
no  sound  less  agreeable  than  the  plash  of  light  waves  could 
disturb  her  dreams. 

A  reti'eat  more  delightful  would  be  a  task  for  fancy. 
The  artisan  who  knitted  the  timbers  of  the  chinampa  had 
doubtless  been  a  lover  of  the  luxuriant,  and  built  as  only  a 
lover  can  build.  The  waves  of  the  lake  had  not  been  over 
looked  in  his  plan ;  he  had  measured  their  height,  and  the 
depth  and  width  of  their  troughs,  when  the  weather  was  calm 
and  the  water  gentle.  So  he  knew  both  what  rocking  they 
would  make,  and  what  rocking  would  be  pleasantest  to  a 
delicate  soul ;  for,  as  there  were  such  souls,  there  were  also 
such  artisans  in  Tenochtitlan. 

Viewed  from  a  distance,  the  chinampa  looked  like  an  island 
of  flowers.  Except  where  the  canopy  of  a  white  pavilion 
rose  from  the  midst  of  the  green  beauty,  it  was  covered  to 
the  water's  edge  with  blooming  shrubbery,  which,  this  even 
ing,  was  luminous  with  the  light  of  lamps.  The  radiance, 
glinting  through  the  foliage,  tinted  the  atmosphere  above  it 
with  mellow  rays,  and  seemed  the  visible  presence  of  en 
chantment. 

The  humid  night  breeze  blew  softly  under  the  raised  walls 
of  the  pavilion,  within  which,  in  a  hammock  that  swung  to 
and  fro  regularly  as  the  chinampa  obeyed  the  waves,  lay 
Tula  and  Nenetzin. 

They  were  both  beautiful,  but  different  in  their  beauty. 
Tula's  face  was  round  and  of  a  transparent  olive  complexion, 
without  being  fair ;  her  eyes  were  hazel,  large,  clear,  and  full 
of  melancholy  earnestness;  masses  of  black  hair,  evenly 
parted,  fell  over  her  temples,  and  were  gathered  behind  in  a 
simple  knot ;  with  a  tall,  full  form,  her  presence  and  man 
ner  were  grave  and  very  queenly.  Whereas,  Nenetzin's 
eyes,  though  dark,  were  bright  with  the  light  of  laughter: 
6 


122  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


her  voice  was  low  and  sweet,  and  her  manner  that  of  a 
hoyden.  One  was  the  noble  woman,  the  other  a  jocund 
child. 

"  It  is  late,  Tula  ;  our  father  may  want  us.    Let  us  return." 

"  Be  patient  a  little  longer.  The  'tzin  will  come  for  us ; 
he  promised  to,  and  you  know  he  never  forgets." 

"  Patience,  sister !  All !  you  may  say  it,  you  who  know ; 
but  how  am  I  to  practise  it,  —  I,  who  have  only  a  hope  ?  " 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Nenetzin  1 " 

The  girl  leaned  back,  and  struck  a  suspended  hoop,  in 
which  was  perched  a  large  parrot.  The  touch,  though  light, 
interrupted  the  pendulous  motion  of  the  bird,  and  it  pecked 
at  her  hand,  uttering  a  gruff  scream,  of  rage. 

"  You  spoke  of  something  I  know,  and  you  hope.  "What 
do  you  mean,  child  ]  " 

Nenetzin  withdrew  her  hand  from  the  perch,  looked  in 
the  questioner's  face,  then  crept  up  to  win  her  embrace. 

"  O  Tula,  I  know  you  are  learned  and  thoughtful.  Often 
after  the  banquet,  when  the  hall  was  cleared,  and  the  music 
begun,  have  I  seen  you  stand  apart,  silent,  while  all  others 
danced  or  laughed.  See,  your  eyes  are  on  mo  now,  but  more 
in  thought  than  love.  O,  indeed,  you  are  wise !  Tell  me, 
did  you  ever  think  of  me  as  a  woman  1 " 

The  smile  deepened  on  the  lips,  and  burned  in  the  eyes  of 
the  queenly  auditor. 

"  No,  never  as  a  woman,"  continued  Nenetzin.  "  Listen 
to  me,  Tula.  The  other  night  I  was  asleep  in  your  arms,  — 
I  felt  them  in  love  around  me,  —  and  I  dreamed  so  strangely.'1 

"  Of  what  1 "  asked  Tula,  seeing  she  hesitated. 

"  I  dreamed  there  entered  at  the  palace  door  a  being  with 
a  countenance  white  like  snow,  while  its  hair  and  beard  were 
yellow,  like  the  silk  of  the  maize ;  its  eyes  were  blue,  like 
the  deep  water  of  the  lake,  but  bright,  so  bright  that  they 
terrified  while  they  charmed  me.  Thinking  of  it  nuw,  0 


THE  CHINAMPA.  123 


Tula,  it  was  a  man,  though  it  looked  like  a  god.  He  entered 
at  the  palace  door,  and  came  into  the  great  chamber  where 
our  father  sat  with  his  chiefs ;  but  he  came  not  barefooted 
and  in  nequen  ;  he  spoke  as  he  were  master,  and  our  father 
a  slave.  Looking  and  listening,  a  feeling  thrilled  me,  — 
thrilled  warm  and  deep,  and  was  a  sense  of  joy,  like  a  bless 
ing  of  Tlalac.  Since  then,  though  I  have  acted  as  a  girl,  I 
have  felt  as  a  woman." 

"  Very  strange,  indeed,  Nenetzin !  "  said  Tula,  playfully. 
"  But  you  forget :  I  asked  you  what  I  know,  and  you  only 
hope  1 " 

"  I  will  explain  directly ;  but  as  you  are  wise,  first  tell  me 
what  that  feeling  was." 

"  Nay,  I  can  tell  you  whence  the  water  flows,  but  I  cannot 
tell  you  what  it  is." 

"  "Well,  since  then  I  have  had  a  hope  —  " 

"Well?" 

"  A  hope  o£  seeing  the  white  face  and  blue  eyes." 

"  I  begin  to  understand  you,  Nenetzin.  But  go  on  :  what 
is  it  I  know  1 " 

"  What  I  dreamed,  —  a  great  warrior,  who  loves  you. 
You  will  see  him  to-night,  and  then,  0  Tula,  —  then 
you  may  tell  of  the  feeling  that  thrilled  uie  so  in  my 
dream." 

And  with  a  blush  and  a  laugh,  she  laid  her  face  in  Tula's 
bosom. 

Both  were  silent  awhile,  Nenetzin  with  her  face  hidden, 
and  Tula  looking  wistfully  up  at  the  parrot  swinging  lazily 
in  the  perch.  The  dream  was  singular,  and  made  an  im 
pression  on  the  mind  of  the  one  as  it  had  on  the  heart  of 
the  other. 

"  Look  up,  0  Nenetzin  !  "  said  Tula,  after  a  while.  "  Look 
up,  and  I  will  tell  you  something  that  has  seemed  as  strange 
to  me  as  the  dream  to  you." 


124:  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


The  girl  raised  her  head. 

"  Did  you  ever  see  Mualox,  the  old  paba  of  Quetzal'  1 
No  1  Well,  he  is  said  to  be  a  prophet ;  a  look  of  his  will 
make  a  warrior  tremble.  He  is  the  friend  of  Guatamozin, 
who  always  goes  to  his  shrine  to  worship  the  god.  I  went 
there  once  to  make  an  offering.  I  climbed  the  steps,  went 
in  where  the  image  is,  laid  my  gift  on  the  altar,  and  turned 
to  depart,  when  a  man  came  and  stood  by  the  door,  wearing 
a  surplice,  and  with  long,  flowing  white  beard.  He  looked 
at  me,  then  bowed,  and  kissed  the  pavement  at  my  feet.  I 
shrank  away.  '  Fear  not,-  0  Tula  ! '  he  said.  '  I  bow  to 
you,  not  for  what  you  are,  but  for  what  you  shall  be.  You 
shall  be  queen  in  your  father's  palace  ! '  With  that  he  arose, 
and  left  me  to  descend." 

"  Said  he  so  1  How  did  he  know  you  were  Tula,  the 
king's  daughter?" 

"  That  is  part  of  the  mystery.  I  never  saw  him  before  ; 
nor,  until  I  told  the  story  to  the  'tzin,  did  I  know  the  paba. 
Now,  0  sister,  can  the  believer  of  a.  dream  refuse  to  believe 
a  priest  and  prophet  ?  " 

"  A  queen !  You  a  queen !  I  will  kiss  you  now,  and 
pray  for  you  then."  And  they  threw  their  arms  lovingly 
around  each  other.  . 

Then  the  "bird  above  them  awoke,  and,  with  a  fluttering 
of  its  scarlet  wings,  cried,  "  Guatamo  !  Guatarno  ! "  —  taught 
it  by  the  patient  love  of  Tula. 

"  0,  what  a  time  that  will  be  !  "  Nenetzin  went  on,  with 
sparkling  eyes.  "  What  a  garden  we  will  make  of  Anahuac  ! 
How  happy  we  shall  be !  None  but  the  brave  and  beautb 
ful  shall  come  around  us ;  for  you  will  be  queen,  my 
Tula." 

"  Yes ;  and  Nenetzin  shall  have  a  lord,  he  whom  she 
loves  best,  for  she  will  be  as  peerless  as  I  am  powerful," 
answered  Tula,  humoring  the  mood.  "  Whom  will  she 


THE  CHINAMPA.  125 


take1?  Let  us  decide  now,  —  there  are  so  many  to  choose 
from.  What  says  she  to  Cacama,  lord  of  Te/cuco  1 " 

The  girl  made  no  answer. 

"  There  is  the  lord  of  Chinantla,  once  a  king,  who  has 
already  asked  our  father  for  a  wife." 

Still  Nenetzin  was  silent. 

"  Neither  of  them !  Then  there  are  left  but  the  lord  ot 
Tlacopan,  and  IztliT,  the  Tezcucan." 

At  the  mention  of  the  last  name,  a  strong  expression  of 
disgust  burst  from  Nenetzin. 

"  A  tiger  from  the  museum  first !  It  could  be  taught  to 
love  me.  No,  none  of  them  for  me ;  none,  Tula,  if  you 
let  me  have  my  way,  but  the  white  face  and  blue  eyes  I  saw 
in  my  dream." 

"  You  are  mad,  Nenetzin.     That  was  a  god,  not  a  man." 

"  All  the  better,  Tula  !  The  god  will  forgive  me  for  lov 
ing  him." 

Before  Tula  spoke  again,  Guatamozin  stepped  within  the 
pavilion.  Nenetzin  was  noisy  in  expressing  her  gladness, 
while  the  elder  sister  betrayed  no  feeling  by  words ;  only 
her  smile  and  the  glow  of  her  eyes  intensified. 

The  'tzin  sat  down  by  the  hammock,  and  with  his  strong 
hand  staying  its  oscillation,  talked  lightly.  As  yet  Tula 
knew  nothing  of  the  proposal  of  the  Tezcucan,  or  of  the  favor 
the  king  had  given  it ;  but  the  ken  of  love  is  as  acute  as  an 
angel's;  sorrow  of  the  cherished  heart  cannot  be  hidden 
from  it ;  so  in  his  very  jests  she  detected  a  trouble ;  but, 
thinking  it  had  relation  to  the  condition  of  the  Empire,  she 
asked  nothing,  while  he,  loath  to  disturb  her  happiness,  coun 
selled  darkly  of  his  own  soul. 

After  a  while,  as  Nenetzin  prayed  to  return  to  the  city, 
they  left  the  pavilion ;  and,  following  a  little  path  through 
the  teeming  shrubbery,  and  under  the  boughs  of  orange- 
trees,  overarched  like  an  arbor,  they  came  to  the  'tzin's 


126  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


canoe.  The  keeper  of  the  chinampa  was  there  with  great 
bundles  of  flowers.  Tula  and  Nenetzin  entered  the  vessel ; 
then  was  the  time  for  the  slave ;  so  ho  threw  in  the  bundles 
until  they  were  nearly  buried  under  them,  —  Ms  gifts  of 
love  and  allegiance.  When  the  rowers  pushed  off,  he  knelt 
with  his  face  to  the  earth. 

i  Gliding  homeward  through  the  dusk,  Guatamozin  told  the 
story  of  Yeteve ;  and  Tula,  moved  by  the  girl's  devotion, 
consented  to  take  her  into  service,  —  at  least,  until  the  tem 
ple  claimed  its  own. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

COUKT   GOSSIP. 

"  A  PINCH  of  your  snuff,  Xoli !  To  be  out  thus  early 
JL\-  dulls  a  nice  brain,  which  nothing  clarifies  like  snuff. 
By  the  way,  it  is  very  strange  that  when  one  wants  a  good 
article  of  any  kind,  he  can  only  get  it  at  the  palace  or  of 
you.  So,  a  pinch,  my  fat  fellow ! " 

"  I  can  commend  my  snuff,"  said  the  Chalcan,  bowing 
very  low,  "  only  a  little  less  than  the  good  taste  of  the  most 
noble  Maxtla." 

While  speaking,  —  the  scene  being  in  his  pulque  room,  — 
he  uncovered  a  gilded  jar  sitting  upon  the  counter. 

"  Help  yourself ;  it  is  good  to  sneeze." 

Maxtla  snuffed  the  scented  drug  freely,  then  rushed  to  the 
door,  and  through  eyes  misty  with  tears  of  pleasure  looked 
at  the  sun  rising  over  the  mountains.  A  fit  of  sneezing 
seized  him,  at  the  end  of  which,  a  slave  stood  by  his  elbow 
with  a  ewer  of  water  and  a  napkin.  He  bathed  his  face. 
Altogether,  it  was  apparent  that  sneezing  had  been  reduced 
to  an  Aztec  science. 


COURT  GOSSIP.  127 

"  Elegant !     By  the  Sun,  I  feel  inspired  ! " 

"  No  doubt,"  responded  the  Chalcan.  "  Such  ought  to  be 
the  effect  of  tobacco  and  rose-leaves,  moistened  with  dew. 
But  tell  me ;  that  tilmatli  you  are  wearing  is  quite  royal,  — 
is  it  from  the  king  ? " 

The  young  chief  raised  the  folds  of  the  mantle  of  plumaje, 
which  he  was  sporting  for  the  first  time.  "  From  the  king  1 
No  ;  my  tailor  has  just  finished  it." 

"  Certainly,  my  lord.  How  dull  I  was  !  You  are  prepar 
ing  for  the  banquet  at  the  palace  to-morrow  night." 

"  You  recollect  the  two  thousand  quills  of  gold  I  bid  for 
your  priestess  the  other  evening,"  said  Maxtla,  paying  no 
attention  to  the  remark.  "  I  concluded  to  change  the  invest 
ment  ;  they  are  all  in  that  collar  and  loop." 

Xoli  examined  the  loop. 

"  A  clialchuite  !  What  jeweller  in  the  city  could  sell  you 
one  so  rich  ? " 

"  Not  one.  I  bought  it  of  Cacama.  It  is  a  crown  jewel 
of  Tezcuco." 

"  You  were  lucky,  my  lord.  But,  if  you  will  allow  me, 
what  became  of  the  priestess  1  Saw  you  ever  such  danc- 
ing?" 

"  You  are  late  inquiring,  Chalcan.  The  beggar  was  fast 
by  starvation  that  night ;  but  you  were  nearer  death.  The 
story  was  told  the  king,  —  ah  !  you  turn  pale.  "Well  you 
may,  —  and  he  swore,  by  the  fires  of  the  temple,  if  the  girl 
had  been  sold  he  would  have  flayed  alive  both  buyer  and 
seller.  Hereafter  we  had  both  better  look  more  closely  to 
the  law." 

"  But  she  moved  my  pity  as  it  was  never  moved  before  ; 
moreover,  she  told  me  they  had  discharged  her  from  the  tem 
ple." 

"  No  matter ;  the  peril  is  over,  and  our  hearts  are  our  own. 
Yesterday  I  saw  her  in  the  train  of  the  princess  Tula.  The 


128  THE  PAIR  GOD. 


'tzin  cared  for  her.    But  speaking  of  the  princess,  —  the  ban 
quet  to-morrow  night  will  be  spicy." 

The  Chalcan  dropped  the  precious  loop.     Gossip  that  con 
cerned  the  court  was  one  of  his  special  weaknesses. 
,    "  You   know,"    continued   Maxtla,    "  that   the   'tzin   has 
always  been  a  favorite  of  the  king's  —  " 
I     "  As  he  always  deserved  to  be." 

"  Not  so  fast,  Chalcan  !  Keep  your  praise.  You  ought 
to  know  that  nothing  is  so  fickle  as  fortune ;  that  what 
was  most  popular  yesterday  may  be  most  unpopular  to-day. 
Hear  me  out.  You  also  know  that  Iztlil',  the  Tezcucan,  was 
down  in  the  royal  estimation  quite  as  much  as  the  'tzin  was 
up ;  on  which  account,  more  than  anything  else,  he  lost  his 
father's  city." 

Xoli  rested  his  elbow  on  the  counter,  and  listened  eagerly. 

"  It  has  been  agreed  on  all  sides  for  years,"  continued 
Maxtla,  in  his  modulated  voice,  "  that  the  'tzin  and  Tula 
were  to  be  married  upon  her  coming  of  age.  No  one  else 
has  presumed  to  pay  her  court,  lest  it  might  be  an  interfer 
ence.  Now,  the  whole  thing  is  at  an  end.  IztliT,  not  the 
'tzin,  is  the  fortunate  man." 

"  Iztlil' !     And  to-morrow  night ! " 

"  The  palace  was  alive  last  evening  as  with  a  swarming 
of  bees.  Some  were  indignant,  —  all  astonished.  In  fact, 
Xoli,  I  believe  the  'tzin  had  as  many  friends  as  the  king. 
Several  courtiers  openly  defended  him,  notwithstanding  his 
fall,  —  something  that,  to  my  knowledge,  never  happened 
before.  The  upshot  was,  that  a  herald  went  in  state  to  Izta- 
palapan  with  a  decree  prohibiting  the  'tzin  from  visiting 
Tenochtitlan,  under  any  pretence,  until  the  further  pleasure 
of  the  king  is  made  known  to  him." 

"  Banished,  banished  !  But  that  the  noble  Maxtla  told 
me,  I  could  not  believe  what  I  hear." 

"  Certainly.     The  affair  is  mysterious,  as  were  the  means 


COURT  GOSSIP.  129 


by  which  the  result  was  brought  about.  Look  you,  Chalcan  : 
the  'tzin  loved  the  princess,  and  was  contracted  to  her,  and 
now  comes  this  banishment  just  the  day  before  the  valley 
is  called  to  witness  her  betrothal  to  the  Tezcucan.  Cer 
tainly,  it  would  ill  become  the  'tzin  to  be  a  guest  at  such  a 
banquet." 

"  I  understand,"  said  Xoli,  with  a  cunning  smile.  "  It 
was  to  save  his  pride  that  he  was  banished." 

"  If  to  be  a  Chalcan  is  to  be  so  stupid,  I  thank  the  gods 
for  making  me  what  I  am!"  cried  Maxtla,  impatiently.  "  What 
cares  the  great  king  for  the  pride  of  the  enemy  he  would  hum 
ble  ]  The  banishment  is  a  penalty,  —  it  is  ruin." 

There  was  a  pause,  during  which  the  Chalcan  hung  his 
head. 

"  Ah,  Xoli !  The  king  has  changed ;  he  used  to  be  a 
warrior,  loving  warriors  as  the  eagle  loves  its  young.  Now 
—  alas  !  I  dare  not  speak.  Time  was  when  no  envious- 
hearted  knave  could  have  made  him  believe  that  Guatamo- 
zin  was  hatching  treason  in  his  garden  at  Iztapalapan.  Now, 
surrounded  by  mewling  priests,  he  sits  in  the  depths  of  his 
palace,  and  trembles,  and,  like  a  credulous  child,  believes 
everything.  '  Woe  is  Tenochtitlan  ! '  said  Mualox  ;  and 
the  days  strengthen  the  prophecy.  But  enough,  —  more 
than  enough !  Hist,  Chalcan !  What  I  have  said  and 
you  listened  to  —  yea,  the  mere  listening  —  would  suffice, 
if  told  in  the  right  ears,  to  send  us  both  straightway  to  the 
tigers.  I  have  paid  you  for  your  snuff,  and  the  divine 
sneeze.  In  retailing,  recollect,  I  am  not  the  manufacturer. 
Farewell." 

"  Stay  a  moment,  most  noble  chief,  —  but  a  moment,"  said 
the  Chalcan.  "  I  have  invented  a  drink  which  I  desire  you 
to  inaugurate.  If  I  may  be  counted  a  judge,  it  is  fit  for  a 
god."  . 

"  A  judge  !     You  1     Where  is  the  man  who  would  deny 

6*  I 


130  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


you  that  excellence  1  Your  days  have  been  spent  in  the  prac 
tice;  nay,  your  whole  life  has  been  ono  long,  long  drink 
Make  haste.  I  will  wager  pulque  is  chief  in  the  compound." 

The  broker  went  out,  and  directly  returned,  bearing  on  a 
waiter  a  Cholulan  goblet  full  of  cool  liquor,  exquisitely 
colored  with  the  rich  blood  of  the  cactus  apple.  Maxtla 
sipped,  drank,  then  swore  the  drink  was  without  a  rival. 

"  Look  you,  Chalcan.  They  say  we  are  indebted  to  our 
heroes,  our  minstrels,  and  our  priests,  and  I  believe  so  ;  but 
hereafter  I  shall  go  farther  in  the  faith.  This  drink  is  worth 
a  victory,  is  pleasant  as  a  song,  and  has  all  the  virtues  of  a 
prayer.  Do  not  laugh.  I  am  in  earnest.  You  shall  be 
canonized  with  the  best  of  them.  To  show  that  I  am  no 
vain  boaster,  you  shall  come  to  the  banquet  to-morrow,  and 
the  king  shall  thank  you.  Put  on  your  best  tilmatii,  and 
above  all  else,  beware  that  the  vase  holding  this  liquor  is  not 
empty  when  I  call  for  it.  Farewell !  " 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

GUATAMOZIN   AND   MUALOX. 

UP  the  steps  of  the  old  Cu  of  Quetzal',  early  in  the 
evening  of  the  banquet,  went  Guatamozin  unattended. 
As  the  royal  interdiction  rested  upon  his  coining  to  the  cap 
ital,  he  was  muffled  in  a  priestly  garb,  which  hid  his  face 
and  person,  but  could  not  all  disguise  the  stately  bearing 
that  so  distinguished  him.  Climbing  the  steps  slowly,  and 
without  halting  at  the  top  to  note  the  signs  of  the  city,  all 
astir  with  life,  he  crossed  the  azoteas,  entered  the  chamber 

• 

most  sanctified  by  the  presence  of  the  god,  and  before  the 
image  bowed  awhile  in  prayer.     Soon  Mualox  came  in. 


GUATAMOZIN   AND   MUALOX.  131 

"  Ask  anything  that  is  not  evil,  O  best  beloved  of  Quet 
zal',  and  it  shall  be  granted,"  said  the  paba,  solemnly,  laying 
a  hand  upon  the  visitor's  shoulder.  "  I  knew  you  were  com 
ing  ;  I  saw  you  on  the  lake.  Arise,  my  son." 

Guatamozin  stood  up,  and  flung  back  his  hood. 

"  The  house  is  holy,  Mualox,  and  I  have  come  to  speak 
^f  the  things  of  life  that  have  little  to  do  with  religion." 

"  That  is  not  possible.  Everything  has  to  do  with  life, 
which  has  all  to  do  with  heaven.  Speak  out.  This  pres 
ence  will  keep  you  wise ;  if  your  thoughts  be  of  wrong,  it 
is  not  likely  you  will  give  them  speech  in  the  very  ear  of 
Quetzal'." 

Slowly  the  'tzin  then  said,  — 

"Thanks,  father.  In  what  I  have  to  say,  I  will  be 
brief,  and  endeavor  not  to  forget  the  presence.  You  love  me, 
and  I  am  come  for  counsel.  You  know  how  often  those 
most  discreet  in  the  affairs  of  others  are  foolish  in  what  con 
cerns  themselves.  Long  time  ago  you  taught  me  the  impor 
tance  of  knowledge ;  how  it  was  the  divine  secret  of  happi 
ness,  and  stronger  than  a  spear  to  win  victories,  and  better 
in  danger  than  a  shield  seven  times  quilted.  Now  I  have 
come  to  say  that  my  habits  of  study  have  brought  evil  upon 
me  ',  out  of  the  solitude  in  which  I  was  toiling  to  lay  up  a 
great  knowledge,  a  misfortune  has  arisen,  father  to  my  ruin. 
My  stay  at  home  has  been  misconstrued.  Enemies  have 
said  I  loved  books  less  than  power ;  they  charge  that  in  the 
quiet  of  my  gardens  I  have  been  taking  council  of  my  am 
bition,  which  nothing  satisfies  but  the  throne  ;  and  so  they 
have  estranged  from  me  the  love  of  the  king.  Here  against 
his  order,  forbidden  the  city,"  —  and  as  he  spoke  he  raised 
his  head  proudly,  —  "  forbidden  the  city,  behold  me,  paba,  a 
banished  man  ! " 

Mualox  smiled,  and  grim  satisfaction  was  in  the  smile. 

"  If  you  seek  sympathy,"  he  said,  "  the  errand  is  fruit- 


132  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


less.  I  have  no  sorrow  for  what  you  call  your  misfor 
tune." 

"  Let  me  understand  you,  father." 

"  I  repeat,  I  have  no  sorrow  for  you.  Why  should  T 1  I 
8<3e  you  as  you  should  see  yourself.  You  confirm  the  les 
sons  of  which  you  complain.  Not  vainly  that  you  wrought 
in  solitude  for  knowledge,  which,  while  I  knew  it  would 
make  you  a  mark  for  even  kingly  envy,  I  also  intended 
should  make  you  superior  to  misfortunes  and  kings.  Under 
stand  'you  now  1  What  matters  that  you  are  maligned  1 
What  is  banishment  1  They  only  liken  you  the  more  to 
Quetzal',  whose  coming  triumph,  —  heed  me  well,  0  'tzin,  — 
whose  coming  triumph  shall  be  your  triumph." 

The  look  and  voice  of  the  holy  man  were  those  of  one 
with  authority. 

"  For  this  time,"  he  continued,  "  and  others  like  it, 
yet  to  come,  I  thought  to  arm  your  soul  with  a  strong 
intelligence.  Your  life  is  to  be  a  battle  against  evil ;  fail  not 
yourself  in  the  beginning.  Success  will  be  equal  to  your 
wisdom  and  courage.  But  your  story  was  not  all  told." 

The  'tzin's  face  flushed,  and  he  replied,  with  some  fal 
tering,  — 

"You  have  known  and  encouraged  the  love  I  bear  the 
princess  Tula,  and  counted  on  it  as 'the  means  of  some  great 
fortune  in  store  for  me.  Yet,  in  part  at  least,  I  am  ban 
ished  on  that  account.  0  Mualox,  the  banquet  which  the 
king  holds  to-night  is  to  make  public  the  betrothal  of  Tula 
to  Iztlil',  the  Tezcucaii !  " 

"  Well,  what  do  you  intend  1 " 

"  Nothing.  Had  the  trouble  been  a  friend's,  I  might  have 
advised  him ;  but  being  my  own,  I  have  no  confidence  in 
myself.  I  repose  on  your  discretion  and  friendship." 

Mualox  softened  his  manner,  and  said,  pleasantly  at  first, 
"  O  'tzin,  is  humanity  all  frailty  ?  Must  chief  and 


GUATAMOZIN  AND   MUALOX.  133 

pher  bow  to  the  passion,  like  a  slave  or  a  dealer  in  wares  1 " 
Suddenly  he  became  serious ;  his  eyes  shone  full  of  the 
magnetism  he  used  so  often  and  so  well.  "  Can  Guatamozin 
find  nothing  higher  to  occupy  his  mind  than  a  trouble  born 
of  a  silly  love  1  Unmanned  by  such  a  trifle  ?  Arouse  ! 
Ponder  the  mightier  interests  in  peril !  What  is  a  woman, 
with  all  a  lover's  gild  about  her,  to  the  nation  1 " 

"  The  nation  1 "  repeated  the  'tzin,  slowly. 

The  paba  looked  reverently  up  to  the  idol.  "  I  have  with 
drawn  from  the  world,  I  live  but  for  Quetzal'  and  Anahuac. 
O,  generously  has  the  god  repaid  me  !  He  has  given  me  to 
look  out  upon  the  future ;  all  that  is  to  come  affecting  my 
country  he  has  shown  me."  Turning  to  the  'tzin  again,  he 
said  with  emphasis,  "  I  could  tell  marvels,  —  let  this  content 
you  :  words  cannot  paint  the  danger  impending  over  our 
country,  over  Anahuac,  the  beautiful  and  beloved  ;  her  exist 
ence,  and  the  glory  and  power  that  make  her  so  worthy  love 
like  ours,  are  linked  to  your  action.  Your  fate,  0  'tzin,  and 
hers,  and  that  of  the  many  nations,  are  one  and  the  same. 
Accept  the  words  as  a  prophecy ;  wear  them  in  memory  ;  and 
when,  as  now,  you  are  moved  by  a  trifling  fear  or  anger, 
they  should  and  will  keep  you  from  shame  and  folly." 

Both  then  became  silent.  The  paba  might  have  been 
observing  the  events  of  the  future,  as,  one  by  one,  they  rose 
and  passed  before  his  abstracted  vision.  Certain  it  was,  with 
the  thoughts  of  the  warrior  there  mixed  an  ambition  no 
longer  selfish,  but  all  his  country's. 

Mualox  finally  concluded.  "  The  future  belongs  to 
the  gods ;  only  the  present  is  ours.  Of  that  let  us  think. 
Admit  your  troubles  worthy  vengeance  :  dare  you  tell  me 
what  you  thought  of  doing  1  My  son,  why  are  you  here  1 " 

"  Does  my  father  seek  to  mortify  me  ? " 

"  Would  the  'tzin  have  me  encourage  folly,  if  not  worse  1 
And  that  in  the  presence  of  my  god  and  his  ] " 


134  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Speak  plainly,  Mualox." 

"  So  I  will.  Obey  the  king.  Go  not  to  the  palace  to-night. 
If  the  thought  of  giving  the  woman  to  another  is  so  hard, 
could  you  endure  the  sight  ?  Think  :  if  present,  what  could 
you  do  to  prevent  the  betrothal  ] " 

A  savage  anger  flashed  from  the  'tzin's  face,  and  he 
answered,  "  What  could  I  ?  Slay  the  Tezcucan  on  the  step 
of  the  throne,  though  I  died  ! " 

"  It  would  come  to  that.  And  Anahuac !  "What  then 
of  her  ? "  said  Mualox,  in  a  voice  of  exceeding  sorrow. 

The  love  the  warrior  bore  his  country  at  that  moment 
surpassed  all  others,  and  his  rage  passed  away. 

"  True,  most  true  !  If  it  should  be  as  you  say,  that  my 
destiny  —  " 

"  If !  0  'tzin,  if  you  live  !  If  Anahuac  lives  !  If  there 
are  gods  !  —  " 

"  Enough,  Mualox  !  I  know  what  you  would  say.  Con 
tent  you ;  I  give  you  all  faith.  The  wrong  that  tortures 
me  is  not  altogether  that  the  woman  is  to  be  given  to  another  ; 
her  memory  I  could  pluck  from  my  heart  as  a  feather  from 
my  helm.  If  that  were  all,  I  could  curse  the  fate,  and  sub 
mit  ;  but  there  is  more  :  for  the  sake  of  a  cowardly  policy  I 
have  been  put  to  shame ;  treachery  and  treason  have  been 
crowned,  loyalty  and  blood  disgraced.  Hear  me,  father ! 
After  the  decree  of  interdiction  was  served  upon  me,  I  ven 
tured  to  send  a  messenger  to  the  king,  and  he  was  spurned 
from  the  palace.  Next  went  the  lord  Cuitlahua,  uncle  of 
mine,  and  true  lover  of  Anahuac ;  he  was  forbidden  the  men 
tion  of  my  name.  I  am  not  withdrawn  from  the  world ;  my 
pride  will  not  down  at  a  word ;  so  wronged,  I  cannot  reason ; 
therefore  I  am  here." 

"  And  the  coming  is  a  breach  of  duty  ;  the  risk  is  great. 
Return  to  Iztapalapan  before  the  midnight  is  out.  And  I,  — 
but  you  do  not  know,  my  son,  what  a  fortune  has  befallen 


A  KING'S  BANQUET.  135 

me."  The  paba  smiled  faintly.  "  I  have  been  promoted  to 
the  palace  ;  I  am  a  councillor  at  the  royal  table." 

"  A  councillor  !     You,  father  1 " 

The  good  man's  face  grew  serious  again.  "  I  accepted 
the  appointment,  thinking  good  might  result.  But,  alas! 
the  hope  was  vain.  Montezuma,  once  so  wise,  is  past  coun 
sel.  He  will  take  no  guidance.  And  what  a  vanity  !  O 
'tzin,  the  asking  me  to  the  palace  was  itself  a  crime,  since  it 
was  to  make  ine  a  weapon  in  his  hand  with  which  to  resist 
the  holy  Quetzal.'  As  though  I  could  not  see  the  design  !  " 

He  laughed  scornfully,  and  then  said,  "  But  be  not  de 
tained,  my  son.  What  I  can,  I  will  do  for  you ;  at  the 
council-table,  and  elsewhere,  as  opportunity  may  offer,  I  will 
exert  my  influence  for  your  restoration  to  the  city  and  palace. 
Go  now.  Farewell ;  peace  be  with  you.  To-morrow  I  will 
send  you  tidings." 

Thereupon  he  went  out  of  the  tower,  and  down  into  the 
temple. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

A   KING'S   BANQUET. 

AT  last  the  evening  of  the  royal  banquet  arrived,  —  theme 
of  incessant  talk  and  object  of  preparation  for  two  days 
and  a  night,  out  of  the  capital  no  less  than  in  it ;  for  all  the 
nobler  classes  within  a  convenient  radius  of  the  lake  had 
been  bidden,  and,  with  them,  people  of  distinction,  such  as 
successful  artists,  artisans,  and  merchants. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  a  king  of  Montezuma's  sub 
tlety  in  matters  governmental  could  overlook  the  importance 
of  the  social  element,  or  neglect  it.  Education  imports  a 
society ;  more  yet,  academies,  such  as  were  in  Tenoch- 


136  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


titlan  for  the  culture  of  women,  always  import  a  refined  and 
cultivated  society.  And  such  there  was  in  the  beautiful 
valley. 

My  picture  of  the  entertainment  will  be  feeble,  I  know, 
and  I  give  it  rather  as  a  suggestion  of  the  reality,  which  was 
gorgeous  enough  to  be  interesting  to  any  nursling  even  of 
the  court  of  His  Most  Catholic  Majesty  ;  for,  though  heathen 
in  religion,  Montezuma  was  not  altogether  barbarian  in  taste  ; 
and,  sooth  to  say,  no  monarch  in  Christendom  better  under 
stood  the  influence  of  kingliness  splendidly  maintained. 
About  it,  moreover,  was  all  that  makes  chivalry  adorable,  — 
the  dance,  the  feast,  the  wassail ;  brave  men,  fair  women, 
and  the  majesty  of  royalty  in  state  amidst  its  most  absolute 
proofs  of  power. 

On  such  occasions  it  was  the  custom  of  the  great  king  to 
throw  open  the  palace,  with  all  its  accompaniments,  for 
the  delight  of  his  guests,  admitting  them  freely  to  aviary, 
menagerie,  and  garden,  the  latter  itself  spacious  enough  for 
the  recreation  of  thirty  thousand  persons. 

The  house,  it  must  be  remembered,  formed  a  vast  square, 
with  patios  or  court-yards  in  the  interior,  around  which  the 
rooms  were  ranged.  The  part  devoted  to  domestic  uses  was 
magnificently  furnished.  Another  very  considerable  portion 
was  necessary  to  the  state  and  high  duties  of  the  monarch  ; 
such  were  offices  for  his  functionaries,  quarters  for  his  guards, 
and  chambers  for  the  safe  deposit  of  the  archives  of  the  Em 
pire,  consisting  of  maps,  laws,  decrees  and  proclamations, 
accounts  and  reports  financial  and  military,  and  the  accumu 
lated  trophies  of  campaigns  and  conquests  innumerable. 
When  we  consider  the  regard  in  which  the  king  was  held  by 
his  people,  amounting  almost  to  worship,  and  their  curiosity 
to  see  all  that  pertained  to  his  establishment,  an  idea  may  be 
formed  of  what  the  palace  and  its  appurtenances  were  as 
accessaries  to  one  of  his  entertainments. 


A  KING'S  BANQUET.  137 

— •%—• 

Passing  from  the  endless  succession  of  rooms,  the  visitor 
might  go  into  the  garden,  where  the  walks  were  freshly 
streAvn  with  shells,  the  shrubbery  studded  with  colored 
lamps,  the  fountains  all  at  play,  and  the  air  loaded  with 
the  perfume  of  flowers,  which  were  an  Aztec  passion,  and 
seemed  everywhere  a  part  of  everything. 

And  all  this  convenience  and  splendor  was  not  wasted 
upon  an  inappreciative  horde,  —  ferocious  Caribs  or  simple 
children  of  Hispaniola.  At  such  times  the  order  requiring 
the  wearing  of  nequen  was  suspended  ;  so  that  in  the  matter 
of  costume  there  were  no  limits  upon  the  guest,  except  such 
as  were  prescribed  by  his  taste  or  condition.  In  the  ani 
mated  current  that  swept  from  room  to  room  and  from 
house  to  garden  might  be  seen  citizens  in  plain  attire,  and 
warriors  arrayed  in  regalia  which  permitted  all  dazzling 
colors,  and  pabas  hooded,  surpliced,  and  gowned,  brooding 
darkly  even  there,  and  stoled  minstrels,  with  their  harps,  and 
pages,  gay  as  butterflies,  while  over  all  was  the  beauty  of  the 
presence  of  lovely  women. 

Yet,  withal,  the  presence  of  Montezuma  was  more  attrac 
tive  than  the  calm  night  in  the  garden ;  neither  stars,  nor 
perfumed  summer  airs,  nor  singing  fountains,  nor  walks 
strewn  with  shells,  nor  chant  of  minstrels  could  keep  the 
guests  from  the  great  hall  where  he  sat  in  state ;  so  that  it  was 
alike  the  centre  of  all  coming  and  all  going.  There  the  aged 
and  sedate  whiled  away  the  hours  in  conversation ;  the  young 
danced,  laughed,  and  were  happy  ;  and  in  the  common  joy- 
ousness  none  exceeded  the  beauties  of  the  harem,  transiently 
released  from  the  jealous  thraldom  that  made  the  palace  their 
prison. 

From  the  house-tops,  or  from  the  dykes,  or  out  on  the 
water,  the  common  people  of  the  capital,  in  vast  multitudes, 
witnessed  the  coming  of  the  guests  across  the  lake.  Tho 
rivalry  of  the  great  lords  and  families  was  at  all  times  ex- 


138  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


travagant  in  the  matter  of  pomp  and  show  ;  a  king's  banquet, 
however,  seemed  its  special  opportunity,  and  the  lake  its 
particular  field  of  display.  The  king  Cacama,  for  example, 
left  his  city  in  a  canoe  of  exquisite  workmanship,  pranked 
with  pennons,  ribbons,  and  garlands ;  behind  him,  or  at  his 
right  and  left,  constantly  ploying  and  deploying,  attended  a 
ilotilla  of  hundreds  of  canoes  only  a  little  less  rich  in  deco 
ration  than  his  own,  and  timed  in  every  movement,  even  that 
of  the  paddles,  by  the  music  of  conch-shells  and  tambours  ; 
yet  princely  as  the  turn-out  was,  it  did  not  exceed  that  of 
the  lord  Cuitlahua,  governor  of  Iztapalapan.  And  if  others 
were  inferior  to  them  in  extravagance,  nevertheless  they 
helped  clothe  the  beloved  sea  with  a  beauty  and  interest 
scarcely  to  be  imagined  by  people  who  never  witnessed  or 
read  of  the  grand  Venetian  pageants. 

Arrived  at  the  capital,  the  younger  warriors  proceeded  to 
the  palace  afoot ;  while  the  matrons  and  maids,  and  the  older 
and  more  dignified  lords,  were  borne  thither  in  palanquins. 
By  evening  the  whole  were  assembled. 

About  the  second  quarter  of  the  night  two  men  came  up 
the  great  street  to  the  palace,  and  made  their  way  through 
the  palanquins  stationed  there  in  waiting.  They  were 
guests ;  so  their  garbs  bespoke  them.  One  wore  the  gown 
and  carried  the  harp  of  a  minstrel ;  very  white  locks  es 
caped  from  his  hood,  and  a  staif  was  required  to  assist  his 
enfeebled  steps.  The  other  was  younger,  and  with  consistent 
vanity  sported  a  military  costume.  To  say  the  truth,  his  ex 
tremely  warlike  demeanor  lost  nothing  by  the  Hash  of  a  daunt 
less  eye  and  a  step  that  made  the  pave  ring  again. 

An  official  received  them  at  the  door,  and,  by  request,  con 
ducted  them  to  the  garden. 

"  This  is  indeed  royal !  "  the  warrior  said  to  the  minstreL 
"  It  bewilders  me.  Be  yours  the  lead." 

"I  know  the  walks  as  a  deer  his  paths,  or  a  bird  the 


A  KING'S  BANQUET.  139 

brake  that  shelters  its  mate.  Come,"  and  the  voice  was 
strangely  firm  for  one  so  aged,  —  "  come,  let  us  see  the 
company." 

Now  and  then  they  passed  ladies,  escorted  by  gallants,  and 
frequently  there  were  pauses  to  send  second  looks  after  the 
handsome  soldier,  and  words  of  pity  for  his  feeble  companion. 
By  and  by,  coming  to  an  intersection  of  the  walk  they  were 
pursuing,  they  were  hailed,  —  "  Stay,  minstrel,  aud  give  us  a 
song." 

By  the  door  of  a  summer-house  they  saw,  upon  stopping, 
a  girl  whose  beauty  was  worthy  the  tribute  she  sought. 
The  elder  sat  down  upon  a  bench  and  replied,  — 

"  A  song  is  gentle  medicine  for  sorrows.  Have  you  such  ] 
You  are  very  young." 

Her  look  of  sympathy  gave  place  to  one  of  surprise. 

"  I  would  I  were  assured  that  minstrelsy  is  your  proper 
calling." 

"  You  doubt  it !  Here  is  my  harp  :  a  soldier  is  known 
by  his  shield." 

"  But  I  have  heard  your  voice  before,"  she  persisted. 

"  The  children  of  Tenochtitlan,  and  many  who  are  old 
now,  have  heard  me  sing." 

"  But  I  am  a  Chalcan." 

"  I  have  sung  in  Chalco." 

"  May  I  ask  your  name  1 " 

"  There  are  many  streets  in  the  city,  and  on  each  they  call 
me  differently." 

The  girl  was  still  perplexed. 

"  Minstrels  have  patrons,"  she  said,  directly,  "  who  —  " 

"Nay,  child,  this  soldier  here  is  all  the  friend  I 
have." 

Some  one  then  threw  aside  the  vine  that  draped  the  door. 
While  the  minstrel  looked  to  see  who  the  intruder  was,  his 
inquisitor  gazed  at  the  soldier,  who,  on  his  part,  saw  neither 


140  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


of  them ;  he  was  making  an  obeisance  so  very  low  that  his 
face  and  hand  both  touched  the  ground. 

"  Does  the  minstrel  intend  to  sing,  Yeteve  1 "  asked  Nenet- 
zin,  stepping  into  the  light  that  flooded  the  walk. 

The  old  man  bent  forward  on  his  seat. 

"  Heaven's  best  blessing  on  the  child  of  the  king !  It 
should  be  a  nobler  hand  than  mine  that  strikes  a  string  to; 
one  so  beautiful." 

The  comely  princess  replied,  her  face  beaming  with  pleas 
ure,  "  Verily,  minstrel,  much  familiarity  with  song  has  given 
you  courtly  speech." 

"  I  have  courtly  friends,  and  only  borrow  their  words. 
This  place  is  fair,  but  to  my  dull  fancy  it  seems  that  a  maiden 
would  prefer  the  great  hall,  unless  she  has  a  grief  to  indulge." 

"  0,  I  have  a  great  grief,"  she  returned ;  "  though  I  do 
borrow  it  as  you  your  words." 

"  Then  you  love  some  one  who  is  unhappy.  I  understand. 
Is  this  child  in  your  service  ] "  he  asked,  looking  at  Yeteve. 

"  Call  it  mine.     She  loves  me  well  enough  to  serve  me." 

The  minstrel  struck  the  strings  of  his  harp  softly,  as  if 
commencing  a  mournful  story. 

"  I  have  a  friend,"  he  said,  "  a  prince  and  warrior,  whose 
presence  here  is  banned.  He  sits  in  his  palace  to-night,  and 
is  visited  by  thoughts  such  as  make  men  old  in  their  youth. 
He  has  seen  much  of  life,  and  won  fame,  but  is  fast  finding 
that  glory  does  not  sweeten  misfortune,  and  that  of  all 
things,  ingratitude  is  the  most  bitter.  His  heart  is  set  upon 
a  noble  woman ;  and  now,  when  his  love  is  strongest,  he  is 
separated  from  her,  and  may  not  say  farewell.  O,  it  is  not 
in  the  ear  of  a  true  woman  that  lover  so  unhappy  could 
breathe  his  story  in  vain.  "What  would  the  princess  Nenet-' 
zin  do,  if  she  knew  a  service  of  hers  might  soothe  his  great 
grief?" 

Nenetzin's  eyes  were  dewy  with  tears. 


THE  'TZIN'S  LOVE.  141 

"  Good  minstrel,  I  know  the  story  ;  it  is  the  'tzin's. 
Are  you  a  friend  of  his  1  " 

"  His  true  friend.     I  bring  his  farewell  to  Tula." 

"  I  will  serve  him."  And,  stepping  to  the  old  man,  she 
laid  her  hand  on  his.  "  Tell  me  what  to  do,  and  what  you 
would  have." 

"  Only  a  moment's  speech  with  her." 

"  With  Tula?" 

"  A  moment  to  say  the  farewell  he  cannot.  Go  to  the 
palace,  and  tell  her  what  I  seek.  I  will  follow  directly. 
Tell  her  she  may  know  me  in  the  throng  by  these  locks, 
whose  whiteness  will  prove  my  sincerity  and  devotion. 
And  further,  I  will  twine  my  harp  with  a  branch  of  this 
vine  ;  its  leaves  will  mark  me,  and  at  the  same  time  tell  her 
that  his  love  is  green  as  in  the  day  a  king's  smile  sunned  it 
into  ripeness.  Be  quick.  The  moment  comes  when  she 
cannot  in  honor  listen  to  the  message  I  am  to  speak." 

He  bent  over  his  harp  again,  and  Nenetzin  and  Yeteve 
hurried  away. 


CHAPTEE  X. 

THE  'TZIN'S  LOVE. 

E  minstrel  stayed  a  while  to  dress  his  harp  with  the 
vine. 

"  A  woman  would  have  done  it  better  ;  they  have  a  spe 
cial  cunning  for  such  things  ;  yet  it  will  serve  the  purpose. 
^"ow  let  us  on  !  "  he  said,  when  the  task  was  finished. 

To  the  palace  they  then  turned  their  steps.  As  they  ap 
proached  it,  the  walk  became  more  crowded  with  guests. 
Several  times  the  minstrel  was  petitioned  to  stay  and  sing, 
but  he  excused  himself.  He  proceeded,  looking  steadily  at 


142  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


the  ground,  as  is  the  custom  of  the  very  aged.  Amongst 
others,  they  met  Maxtla,  gay  in  his  trappings  as  a  parrot  from 
the  Great  River. 

"  Good  minstrel,"  he  said,  "  in  your  wanderings  through 
the  garden,  have  you  seen  Iztlil',  the  Tezcucan  1 " 

"  I  have  not  seen  the  Tezcucan.  I  should  look  for  him 
ijn  the  great  hall,  where  his  bride  is,  rather  than  in  the  gar 
den,  dreaming  of  his  bridal." 

"  "Well  said,  uncle  !  I  infer  your  harp  is  not  carried  for 
show ;  you  can  sing  !  I  will  try  you  after  a  while." 

When  he  was  gone,  the  minstrel  spoke  bitterly,  — 

"  Beware  of  the  thing  known  in  the  great  house  yondei 
as  policy.  A  week  ago  the  lord  Maxtla  Avould  have  scorned 
to  be  seen  hunting  the  Tezcucan,  whom  he  hates." 

They  came  to  a  portal  above  which,  in  a  niche  of  the 
wall,  sat  the  teotl  *  of  the  house,  grimly  claiming  attention 
and  worship.  Under  the  portal,  past  the  guard  on  duty 
there,  through  many  apartments  full  of  objects  of  wonder 
to  the  stranger,  they  proceeded,  and,  at  last,  with  a  current 
of  guests  slowly  moving  in  the  same  direction,  reached  the 
hall  dominated  by  the  king,  where  the  minstrel  thought  to 
find  the  princess  Tula. 

"  0  my  friend,  I  pray  you,  let  me  stay  here  a  moment," 
said  the  warrior,  abashed  by  dread  of  the  sudden  intro 
duction  to  the  royal  presence.  The  singer  heard  not,  but 
went  on. 

Standing  by  the  door,  the  young  stranger  looked  down  a 
hall  of  great  depth  eastwardly,  broken  by  two  rows  of  pil 
lars  supporting  vast  oaken  girders,  upon  which  rested  raft 
ers  of  red  cedar.  The  walls  were  divided  into  panels,  with 
.borders  broad  and  intricately  arabesqucd.  A  massive  brack 
et  in  the  centre  of  each  panel  held  the  image  of  a  deity, 
the  duplicate  of  the  idol  in  the  proper  sanctuary ;  and  front 
*  A  household  god. 


THE  'TZIN'S   LOVE.  143 


the  feet  of  the  image  radiated  long  arms  of  wood,  well 
carved,  crooked  upward  at  the  elbows,  and  ending  with 
shapely  hands,  clasping  lanterns  of  ayuave  which  emitted 
lights  of  every  tint.  In  the  central  space,  between  the  rows 
of  pillars,  immense  chandeliers  dropped  from  the  rafters,  so 
covered  with  lamps  that  they  looked  like  pyramids  aglow. 
And  arms,  and  images,  and  chandeliers,  and  even  the  huge 
pillars,  were  wreathed  in  garlands  of  cedar  boughs  and 
flowers,  from  which  the  air  drew  a  redolence  as  of  morning 
in  a  garden. 

Through  all  these  splendors,  the  gaze  of  the  visitor  sped 
to  the  further  end  of  the  hall,  and  there  stayed  as  charmed. 
He  saw  a  stage,  bright  with  crimson  carpeting,  rising  three 
steps  above  the  floor,  and  extending  from  wall  to  wall ;  and 
on  that,  covered  with  green  plwnaje,  a  dais,  on  which,  in  a 
chair  or  throne  glittering  with  burnished  gold,  the  king  sat. 
Above  him  spread  a  canopy  fashioned  like  a  broad  sunshade, 
the  staff  resting  on  the  floor  behind  the  throne,  sustained  by 
two  full-armed  warriors,  who,  Avhile  motionless  as  statues, 
were  yet  vigilant  as  sentinels.  Around  the  dais,  their  cos 
tumes  and  personal  decorations  sharing  the  monarch's  splen 
dor,  were  collected  his  queens,  and  their  children,  and  all 
who  might  claim  connection  with  the  royal  family.  The 
light  shone  about  them  as  the  noonday,  so  full  that  all  that 
portion  of  the  hall  seemed  bursting  with  sunshine.  Never 
satin  richer  than  the  emerald  cloth  of  the  canopy,  inwoven, 
as  it  was,  with  feathers  of  humming-birds !  Never  sheen 
of  stars,  to  the  eyes  of  the  wondering  stranger,  sharper  than 
the  glinting  of  the  jewels  with  which  it  was  fringed  ! 

And  the  king  appeared  in  happier  mood  than  common, 
though  the  deep,  serious  look  which  always  accompanies  a 
great  care  came  often  to  his  face.  He  had  intervals  of 
silence  also  ;  yet  his  shrewdest  guests  were  not  permitted  to 
see  that  he  did  not  enjoy  their  enjoyment. 


144  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


His  queens  were  seated  at  his  left,  Tecalco  deeply  troubled, 
sometimes  tearful,  and  Acatlan  cold  and  distant ;  for,  in 
thought  of  her  own  child,  the  beautiful  Nenetzin,  she  trem 
bled  before  the  remorseless  policy. 

And  Tula,  next  to  the  king  the  recipient  of  attention,  sat 
in  front  of  her  mother,  never  more  queenly,  never  so  unhappy. 
Compliments  came  to  her,  and  congratulations,  given  in 
courtly  style ;  minstrels  extolled  her  grace  and  beauty,  and 
the  prowess  and  martial  qualities  of  the  high-born  Tezcucan ; 
and  priest  and  warrior  laid  their  homage  at  her  feet.  Yet  her 
demeanor  was  not  that  of  the  glad  young  bride ;  she  never 
smiled,  and  her  eyes,  commonly  so  lustrous,  were  dim  and 
hopeless ;  her  thoughts  were  with  her  heart,  across  the  lake 
with  the  banished  'tzin. 

As  may  be  conjectured,  it  was  no  easy  game  to  steal  her 
from  place  so  conspicuous ;  nevertheless,  Nenetzin  awaited  the 
opportunity. 

It  happened  that  Maxtla  was  quite  as  anxious  to  get  the 
monarch's  ear  for  the  benefit  of  his  friend,  the  Chalcan,  — 
in  fact,  for  the  introduction  of  the  latter's  newly  invented 
drink.  Experience  taught  the  chief  when  the  felicitous 
moment  arrived.  He  had  then  but  to  say  the  word  :  a  page 
was  sent,  the  liquor  brought.  Montezuma  sipped,  smiled, 
quaffed  deeper,  and  was  delighted. 

"  There  is  nothing  like  it !  "  he  said.  "  Bring  goblets  for 
my  friends,  and  fill  up  again  !  " 

All  the  lordly  personages  about  him  had  then  to  follow 
his  example,  —  to  drink  and  approve.  At  the  end,  Xoli  was 
summoned. 

Nenetzin  saw  the  chance,  and  said,  "  0  Tula,  such  a  song 
as  we  have  heard !  It  was  sweeter  than  that  of  the  bird 
that  wakes  us  in  the  morning,  sweeter  than  all  the  flutes 
in  the  hall." 

"  And  the  singer,  —  who  was  he  I " 


THE  'TZIN'S  LOVE.  145 

Neither  Nenetzin  nor  Yeteve  could  tell  his  name. 

"  He  charmed  us  so,"  said  the  former,  "  that  we  thought 
only  of  taking  you  to  hear  him.  Come,  go  with  us.  There 
never  was  such  music  or  musician." 

And  the  three  came  down  from  the  platform  unobserved 
by  the  king.  When  the  minstrel's  message  was  delivered, 
then  was  shown  how  well  the  Tezcucan  had  spoken  when  he 
said  of  the  royal  children,  "  They  are  all  beautiful,  but  only 
one  is  fitted  to  be  a  warrior's  wife." 

"  Let  us  see  the  man,"  said  Tula.  "  How  may  we  know 
him,  Nenetzin  1 " 

And  they  went  about  eagerly  looking  for  the  singer  with 
the  gray  locks  and  the  vine-wreathed  harp.  They  found  him 
at  last  about  midway  the  hall,  leaning  on  his  staff,  a  solitary 
amidst  the  throng.  No  one  thought  of  asking  him  for  a 
song ;  he  was  too  old,  too  like  one  come  from  a  tomb  with 
unfashionable  stories. 

"  Father,"  said  Tula,  "  we  claim  your  service.  You  look 
weary,  yet  you  must  know  the  ancient  chants,  which,  though 
I  would  not  like  to  say  it  everywhere,  please  me  best.  Will 
you  sing  1 " 

He  raised  his  head,  and  looked  at  her :  she  started. 
Something  she  saw  in  his  eyes  that  had  escaped  her  friends. 

"  A  song  from  me  !  "  he  replied,  as  if  astonished.  "  No, 
it  cannot  be.  I  have  known  some  gentle  hearts,  and  studied 
them  to  remember ;  but  long  since  they  went  to  dust.  You 
do  not  know  me.  Imagining  you  discerned  of  what  I  was 
thinking,  you  were  moved ;  you  only  pitied  me,  here  so 
desolate." 

As  he  talked,  she  recovered  her  composure. 

"  Will  you  sing  for  me,  father  ] "  she  again  asked. 

"  0  willingly  !     My  memory  is  not  so  good  as  it  used  to 
be ;  yet  one  song,  at  least,  I  will  give  you  from  the  number 
less  ills  that  crowd  it." 
7 


146  THE   FAIR   GOD. 


He  looked  slowly  and  tremulously  around  at  the  guests 
who  had  followed  her,  or  stopped,  as  they  were  passing,  to 
hear  the  conversation. 

"  As  you  say,"  he  then  continued,  "  I  am  old  and  feeble, 
and  it  is  wearisome  to  stand  here ;  besides,  my  theme  will 
be  sad,  and  such  as  should  be  heard  in  quiet.  Time  was 
when  my  harp  had  honor,  —  to  me  it  seems  but  yesterday  ; 
but  now  —  enough  !  Here  it  were  not  well  that  my  voice 
should  be  heard." 

She  caught  his  meaning,  and  her  whole  face  kindled ;  but 
Nenetzin  spoke  first. 

"  0  yes ;  let  us  to  the  garden  !  " 

The  minstrel  bowed  reverently.  As  they  started,  a  wo 
man,  who  had  been  listening,  said,  "  Surely,  the  noble  Tula 
is  not  going  !  The  man  is  a  dotard  ;  he  cannot  sing ;  he  is 
palsied." 

But  they  proceeded,  and  through  the  crowd  and  out  of  the 
hall  guided  the  trembling  minstrel.  Coming  to  a  passage 
that  seemed  to  be  deserted,  they  turned  into  it,  and  Nenctzin, 
at  Tula's  request,  went  back  to  the  king.  Then  a  change 
came  over  the  good  man ;  his  stooping  left  him,  his  step  be 
came  firm,  and,  placing  himself  in  front,  he  said,  in  a  deep, 
strong  voice,  — 

"  It  is  mine  to  lead  now.  I  remember  these  halls.  Once 
again,  0  Tula,  let  me  lead  you  here,  as  I  have  a  thousand 
times  in  childhood." 

And  to  a  chamber  overlooking  the  garden,  by  the  hand  he 
led  her,  followed  by  Yeteve,  sobbing  like  a  child.  A  dim 
light  from  the  lamps  without  disclosed  the  walls  hung  with 
trophies  captured  in  wars  with  the  surrounding  tribes  and 
nations.  Where  the  rays  were  strongest,  he  stopped,  and  re 
moved  the  hood,  and  said,  earnestly,  — 

"  Against  the  king's  command,  and  loving  you  better  than 
ftfe,  0  Tula,  Guatamozin  has  come  to  say  farewelL" 


THE  'TZIN'S  LOVE.  147 

There  was  a  great  silence  ;  each  heard  the  beating  of  tho 
other's  heart. 

"  You  have  passed  from  me,"  he  continued,  "  and  I  send 
my  grief  after  you.  I  look  into  your  face,  and  see  fade  our 
youth,  our  hopes,  and  our  love,  and  all  the  past  that  bore  it 
relation.  The  days  of  pleasantness  are  ended;  the  spring 
that  fed  the  running  brook  is  dry.  0  Tula,  dear  one,  the 
bird  that  made  us  such  sweet  music  is  songless  forever  J  " 

Her  anguish  was  too  deep  for  the  comfort  of  words  or 
tears.  Closer  he  clasped  her  hand. 

"  O,  that  power  should  be  so  faithless  !  Here  are  banners 
that  I  have  taken.  Yonder  is  a  shield  of  a  king  of  Miclmaca 
whom  I  slew.  I  well  remember  the  day.  Montezuma  led 
the  army  ;  the  fight  was  hard,  the  peril  great ;  and  after  I 
struck  the  blow,  he  said  I  had  saved  his  life,  and  vowed  me 
boundless  love  and  a  splendid  reward.  What  a  passion  the 
field  of  fighting  men  was  !  And  yet  there  was  another  al 
ways  greater.  I  had  dwelt  in  the  palace,  and  learned  that 
in  the  smile  of  the  noble  Tula  there  was  to  my  life  what  tho 
sunshine  is  to  the  flower." 

He  faltered,  then  continued  brokenly,  — 

"  He  had  honors,  palaces,  provinces,  and  crowns  to  bestow ; 
but  witness,  0  gods,  whose  sacred  duty  it  is  to  punish  in 
gratitude,  —  witness  that  I  cared  more  to  call  Tula  wife  than 
for  all  the  multitude  of  his  princeliest  gifts  !  " 

And  now  fast  ran  the  tears  of  the  princess,  through  sorrow 
rising  to  full  womanhood,  while  the  murky  chamber  echoed 
with  the  sobs  of  Yeteve.  If  the  ghost  of  the  barbarian  king 
yet  cared  for  the  shield  he  died  defending,  if  it  were  there 
present,  seeing  and  hearing,  its  revenge  was  perfect. 

"  If  Guatamozin  —  so  dear  to  me  now,  so  dear  always  — 
will  overlook  the  womanly  selfishness  that  could  find  a  pleas 
ure  in  his  grief,  I  will  prove  that  he  has  not  loved  unworthily. 
You  have  asked  nothing  of  me,  nor  urged  any  counsel,  and  I 


148  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


fchank  you  for  the  moderation.  I  thank  you,  also,  that  you 
have  spoken  as  if  this  sorrow  were  not  yours  more  than  mine. 
Most  of  all,  0  'tzin,  I  thank  you  for  not  accusing  me.  Need 
I  say  how  T  hate  the  Tezcucan  ]  or  that  I  am  given  away 
against  my  will  ]  I  am  to  go  as  a  price,  as  so  much  cocoa, 
in  purchase  of  the  fealty  of  a  wretch  who  would  league  with 
Mictlan  to  humble  my  father.  I  am  a  weak  woman,  with 
out  tribes  or  banner,  and  therefore  the  wrong  is  put  upon 
me.  But  have  I  no  power  1 "  And,  trembling  with  the 
strong  purpose,  she  laid  her  hand  upon  his  breast.  "  Wife 
Avill  I  never  be  except  of  Guataniozin.  I  am  the  daughter 
of  a  king.  My  father,  at  least,  should  know  me.  He  may 
sell  me,  but,  thank  the  holy  gods,  I  am  the  keeper  of  my  own 
life.  And  what  would  life  be  with  the  base  Tezcucan  for  my 
master  1  Royal  power  in  a  palace  of  pearl  and  gold  would 
not  make  it  worth  the  keeping.  0  'tzin,  you  never  threw  a 
worthless  leaf  upon  the  lake  more  carelessly  than  I  would 
then  fling  this  poor  body  there  !  " 

Closer  to  his  heart  he  pressed  the  hand  on  his  breast. 

"  To  you,  to  you,  0  Tula,  be  the  one  blessing  greater  than 
all  others  which  the  gods  keep  back  in  the  Sun  !  So  only 
can  you  be  rewarded.  I  take  your  words  as  an  oath.  Keep 
them,  only  keep  them,  and  I  will  win  for  you  all  that  can  be 
won  by  man.  What  a  time  is  coming  —  " 

Just  then  a  joyous  cry  and  a  burst  of  laughter  from  the 
garden  interrupted  his  passionate  speech,  and  recalled  him  to 
himself  and  tho  present,  —  to  the  present,  which  was  not  to 
be  satisfied  with  lovers'  rhapsodies.  And  so  he  said,  when 
next  he  spoke,  — 

"  You  have  anwered  my  most  jealous  wish.  Go  back 
now ;  make  no  objection  to  the  Tezcucan  :  the  betrothal 
is  not  the  bridal.  The  king  and  IztliT  cannot  abide  together 
in  peace.  I  know  them." 

And  sinking  his  voice,  he  added,  "  Your  hand  is  on  my 


THE  'TZIN'S  LOVE.  149 


heart,  and  by  its  beating  you  cannot  fail  to  know  how  full  it 
is  of  love.  Take  my  blessing  to  strengthen  you.  Farewell. 
I  will  return  to  my  gardens  and  dreams." 

"  To  dreams  !  And  with  such  a  storm  coming  upon  Ana- 
huac  !  "  said  Tula.  "  No,  no  ;  to  dream  is  mine." 

Up,  clear  to  his  vision,  rose  the  destiny  prophesied  for 
him  by  Mualox.  As  he  pondered  it,  she  said,  tearfully,  — 

"  I  love  my  father,  and  he  is  blind  or  mad.  Now  is  his 
peril  greatest,  now  most  he  needs  friendship  and  help.  0 
'tzin,  leave  him  not,  —  I  conjure  you  by  his  past  kindness  ! 
Remember  I  am  his  child." 

Thereupon  ho  dropped  her  hand,  and  walked  the  floor, 
while  the  banners  and  the  shields  upon  the  walls,  and  the 
mute  glory  they  perpetuated,  whispered  of  the  wrong  and 
shame  he  was  enduring.  When  he  answered,  she  knew 
how  great  the  struggle  had  been,  and  that  the  end  was 
scarcely  a  victory. 

"  You  have  asked  that  of  me,  my  beloved,  which  is  a 
sore  trial,"  he  said.  "  I  will  not  deny  that  the  great  love  I 
bore  your  father  is  disturbed  by  bitterness.  Think  how  ex 
cessive  my  injury  is,  —  I  who  revered  as  a  son,  and  have  al 
ready  put  myself  in  death's  way  for  him.  In  the  halls,  and 
out  in  the  gardens,  my  name  has  been  a  jest  to-night.  And 
how  the  Tezcucan  has  exulted  !  It  is  hard  for  the  sufferer  to 
love  his  wrong-doer,  —  0  so  hard  !  But  this  I  will,,  and  as  an 
oath  take  the  promise  :  as  long  as  the  king  acts  for  Anahuac, 
not  imperilling  her  safety  or  glory,  so  long  will  I  uphold  him  ; 
this,  0  Tula,  from  love  of  country,  and  nothing  more  !  " 

And  as  the  future  was  veiled  against  the  woman  and  du 
tiful  child,  she  replied  simply,  "  I  accept  the  oath.  Now 
lead  me  hence." 

He  took  her  hand  again,  and  said,  "  In  peril  of  life  I 
came  to  say  farewell  forever ;  but  I  will  leave  a  kiss  upon 
your  forehead,  and  plant  its  memory  in  your  heart,  and 
some  day  come  again  to  claim  you  mine." 


150  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


And  he  put  his  arm  around  her,  and  left  the  kiss  on  her 
forehead,  and,  as  the  ancient  he  entered,  conducted  the  un 
happy  princess  from  the  chamber  of  banners  back  to  the 
hall  of  betrothal. 

CHAPTER  XL 

THE    CHANT. 

"  TF  you  have  there  anything  for  laughter,  Maxtla,  I  bid 

JL  you  welcome,"  said  the  king,  his  guests  around  him. 

And  the  young  chief  knelt  on  the  step  before  the  throne, 
and  answered  with  mock  solemnity,  "  Your  servant,  O  king, 
knows  your  great  love  of  minstrelsy,  and  how  it  delights 
you  to  make  rich  the  keeper  of  a  harp  who  sings  a  good 
song  well.  I  have  taken  one  who  bears  him  like  a  noble 
singer,  and  has  age  to  warrant  his  experience." 

"  Call  you  that  the  man  ? "  asked  the  king,  pointing  to 
Guatamozin. 

"  He  is  the  man." 

The  monarch  laughed,  and  all  the  guests  listening  laughed. 

Now,  minstrels  were  common  on  all  festive  occasions ;  in 
deed,  an  Aztec  banquet  was  no  more  perfect  without  them 
than  without  guests  :  but  it  was  seldom  the  royal  halls  were 
graced  by  one  so  very  aged ;  so  that  the  bent  form  and  gray 
locks,  that  at  other  places  and  times  would  have  insured 
safety  and  respect,  now  excited  derision.  The  men  thought 
his  presence  there  presumptuous,  the  women  laughed  at  him 
as  a  dotard.  In  brief,  the  'tzin's  peril  was  very  great. 

He  seemed,  however,  the  picture  of  aged  innocence,  and 
stood  before  the  throne,  his  head  bowed,  his  face  shaded  by 
the  hood,  leaning  humbly  on  his  staff,  and  clasping  the  harp 
close  to  his  breast,  the  vines  yet  about  it.  So  well  did  he 


THE  CHANT.  151 


observe  his  disguise,  that  none  there,  save  Tula  and  Yeteve, 
might  dream  that  the  hood  and  dark  gown  concealed  the 
boldest  warrior  in  Tenochtitlan.  The  face  of  the  priestess 
was  turned  away ;  but  the  princess  sat  a  calm  witness  of  the 
scene ;  either  she  had  too  much  pride  to  betray  her  solici 
tude,  or  a  confidence  in  his  address  so  absolute  that  she  felt 
none. 

"  He  is  none  of  ours,"  said  the  king,  when  he  had  sev 
eral  times  scanned  the  minstrel.  "  If  the  palace  ever  knew 
him,  it  was  in  the  days  of  Axaya',  from  whose  tomb  he 
seems  to  have  come." 

"  As  I  came  in  from  the  garden,  I  met  him  going  out," 
said  Maxtla,  in  explanation.  "  I  could  not  bear  that  my 
master  should  lose  such  a  promise  of  song.  Besides,  I  have 
heard  the  veterans  in  service  often  say  that  the  ancient 
chants  were  the  best,  and  I  thought  it  a  good  time  to  test  the 
boast." 

The  gray  courtiers  frowned,  and  the  king  laughed  again. 

"My  minstrel  here  represented  that  old  time  so  well," 
continued  Maxtla,  "that  at  first  I  was  full  of  reverence; 
therefore  I  besought  him  to  come,  and  before  you,  O  king, 
sing  the  chants  that  used  to  charm  your  mighty  father.  I 
thought  it  no  dishonor  for  him  to  compete  with  the  singers 
now  in  favor,  they  giving  us  something  of  the  present  time. 
He  declined  in  courtliest  style ;  saying  that,  though  his  voice 
was  good,  he  was  too  old,  and  might  shame  the  ancient  min 
strelsy  ;  and  that,  from  what  he  had  heard,  my  master  de 
lighted  only  in  things  of  modern  invention.  A  javelin  in 
the  hand  of  a  sentinel  ended  the  argument,  and  he  finally 
consented.  Wherefore,  0  king,  I  claim  him  captive,  to 
whom,  if  it  be  your  royal  pleasure,  I  offer  liberty,  if  he  will 
sing  in  competition  before  this  noble  company." 

What  sport  could  be  more  royal  than  such  poetic  contest, 
—  the  old  reign  against  the  new  ?  Montezuma  welcomed 
the  idea. 


152  THE   FAIR   GOD. 


"  The  condition  is  reasonable,"  he  said.  "  Is  there  a  min 
strel  in  the  valley  to  call  it  otherwise  1 " 

In  a  tone  scarcely  audible,  though  all  were  silent  that  they 
might  hear,  the  'tzin  answered,  — 

"  Obedience  was  the  first  lesson  of  every  minstrel  of  the 
old  time  ;  but  as  the  master  we  served  loved  us  as  his  chil 
dren,  we  never  had  occasion  to  sing  for  the  purchase  of  our 
liberty.  And  more, — the  capture  of  a  harmless  singer,  though 
he  were  not  aged  as  your  poor  slave,  0  king,  was  not 
deemed  so  brave  a  deed  as  to  be  rewarded  by  our  master's 
smile." 

The  speech,  though  feebly  spoken,  struck  both  the  king 
and  his  chief. 

"  Well  done,  uncle  !  "  said  the  former,  laughing.  "  And 
since  you  have  tongue  so  sharp,  we  remove  the  condition — ' 

"  Thanks,  many  thanks,  most  mighty  king  !  May  the 
gods  mete  you  nothing  but  good  !  I  will  depart."  And  the 
'tzin  stooped  till  his  harp  struck  the  floor. 

The  monarch  waved  his  hand.  "..Stay.  I  merely  spoke 
of  the  condition  that  made  your  liberty  depend  upon  your 
song.  Go,  some  of  you,  and  call  my  singers."  A  courtier 
hurried  away,  then  the  king  added.  "It  shall  be  well  for 
him  who  best  strikes  the  strings.  I  promise  a  prize  that 
shall  raise  him  above  trouble,  and  make  his  life  what  a  poet's 
ought  to  be." 

Guatainozin  advanced,  and  knelt  on  the  step  from  which 
Maxtla  had  risen,  and  said,  his  voice  sounding  tremulous 
with  age  and  infirmity,  — 

"  If  the  great  king  will  deign  to  heed  his  servant  again,  — 
I  am  old  and  weak.  There  was  a  time  when  I  would  have 
rejoiced  to  hear  a  prize  so  princely  offered  in  such  a  trial.  But 
that  was  many,  many  summers  ago.  And  this  afternoon,  in 
my  hut  by  the  lake-shore,  when  I  took  my  harp,  all  covered 
with  dust,  from  the  shelf  where  it  had  so  long  lain  untouched 


THE  CHANT.  153 


and  neglected,  and  wreathed  it  with  this  fresh  vine,  thinking 
a  gay  dress  might  give  it  the  appearance  of  use,  and  myself 
a  deceitful  likeness  to  the  minstrel  I  once  was,  alas !  I  did 
not  think  of  my  trembling  hand  and  my  shattered  memory, 
or  of  trial  like  this.  I  only  knew  that  a  singer,  however 
humble,  was  privileged  at  your  banquet,  and  that  the  privi 
lege  was  a  custom  of  the  monarchs  now  in  their  halls  in  the 
Sun,  —  true,  kingly  men,  who,  at  time  like  this,  would  have 
put  gold  in  my  hand,  and  bade  me  arise,  and  go  in  peace. 
Is  Montezuma  more  careless  of  his  glory  ?  Will  he  compel 
my  song,  and  dishonor  my  gray  hair,  that  I  may  go  abroad 
in  Tenochtitlan  and  tell  the  story  1  In  pity,  O  king,  suffer 
me  to  depart." 

The  courtiers  murmured,  and  even  Maxtla  relented,  but 
the  king  said,  "  Good  uncle,  you  excite  my  curiosity  the 
more.  If  your  common  speech  have  in  it  such  a  vein  of 
poetry,  what  must  the  poetry  be  ?  And  then,  does  not  your 
obstinacy  outmeasure  my  cruelty?  Get  ready,  I  hold  the 
fortune.  Win  it,  and  I  am  no  king  if  it  be  not  yours." 

The  interest  of  the  bystanders  now  exceeded  their  pity. 
It  was  novel  to  find  one  refusing  reward  so  rich,  when  the 
followers  of  his  art  were  accustomed  to  gratify  an  audience, 
even  one  listener,  upon  request. 

And,  seeing  that  escape  from  the  trial  was  impossible,  the 
'tzin  arose,  resolved  to  act  boldly.  Minstrelsy,  as  practised 
by  the  Aztecs,  it  must  be  remembered,  was  not  singing  so 
much  as  a  form  of  chanting,  accompanied  by  rhythmical 
touches  of  the  lyre  or  harp,  —  of  all  kinds  of  choral  music  the 
most  primitive.  This  he  had  practised,  but  in  the  solitude 
of  his  study.  The  people  present  knew  the  'tzin  Guatamo, 
supposed  to  be  in  his  palace  across  the  lake,  as  soldier, 
scholar,  and  prince,  but  not  as  poet  01  singer  of  heroic  tales. 
So  that  confident  minstrelsy  was  now  but  another,  if  not  a 
surer,  disguise.  And  the  eyes  of  the  princess  Tula  shining 
7* 


154  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


upon  him  calmly  and  steadily,  lie  said,  his  voice  this  time 
trembling  with  suppressed  wrath,  — 

"  Be  it  so,  O  king  !  Let  the  singers  come,  —  let  them 
come.  Your  slave  will  fancy  himself  before  the  great  Axaya', 
or  your  father,  not  less  royal.  He  will  forget  his  age,  and 
put  his  trust  in  the  god  whose  story  he  will  sing." 

Then  other  amusements  were  abandoned,  and,  intelli 
gence  of  the  trial  flying  far  and  fast,  lords  and  ladies,  soldiers 
and  priests  crowded  about  the  throne  and  fdled  the  hall. 
That  any  power  of  song  could  belong  to  one  so  old  and 
unknown  was  incredible. 

"  He  is  a  provincial,  —  the  musician  of  one  of  the  hamlets," 
said  a  courtier,  derisively. 

"  Yes,"  sneered  another,  "  he  will  tell  how  the  flood  came, 
and  drowned  the  harvest  in  his  neighborhood." 

"  Or,"  ventured  a  third,  "  how  a  ravenous  vulture  once 
descended  from  the  hills,  and  carried  off  his  pet  rabbit." 

By  and  by  the  royal  minstrels  came,  —  sleek,  comely  men, 
wearing  long  stoles  fringed  with  gold,  and  having  harps  in 
laid  with  pearl,  and  strung  with  silver  wires.  With  scarce 
a  glance  at  their  humble  competitor,  they  ranged  themselves 
before  the  monarch. 

The  trial  began.  One  after  another,  the  favorites  were 
called  upon.  The  first  sang  of  love,  the  next  of  his  mis 
tress,  the  third  of  Lake  Tezcuco,  the  fourth  of  Monte/Aima, 
his  power,  wisdom,  and  glory.  Before  all  were  through, 
the  patience  of  the  king  and  crowd  was  exhausted.  The 
pabas  wanted  something  touching  religion,  the  soldiers  some 
thing  heroic  and  resounding  with  war ;  and  all  waited  for 
the  stranger,  as  men  listening  to  a  story  wait  for  the  laughter 
it  may  chance  to  excite.  How  were  they  surprised  !  Be 
fore  the  womanly  tones  of  the  last  singer  ceased,  the  old 
man  dropped  his  staff,  and,  lifting  his  harp  against  his  breast, 
struck  its  chords,  and  in  a  voice  clear  and  vibratory  as  the 


THE  CHANT.  155 


blast  of  a  shell,  a  voice  that   filled  the  whole  hall,  and 
startled  maid  and  king  alike,  began  his  chant. 

QUETZAL'. 

Beloved  of  the  Sun  !    Mother  of  the 

Brave  !     Azatlan,  the  North  -born  !    Heard  be  thou 

In  my  far  launched  voice  !     I  sing  to  thy 

Listening  children  of  thee  and  Heaven. 

Vale  in  the  Sun,  where  dwell  the  Gods  !    Sura  of 

The  beautiful  art  thou  !    Thy  forests  are 

Flowering  trees ;  of  crystal  and  gold  thy 

Mountains  ;  and  liquid  light  are  thy  rivers 

Flowing,  all  murmurous  with  songs,  over 

Beds  of  stars.     0  Vale  of  Gods,  the  summery 

Sheen  that  flecks  Earth's  seas,  and  kisses  its  mountains, 

And  fairly  floods  its  plains,  we  know  is  of  thee,  — 

A  sign  sent  us  from  afar,  that  we  may 

Feebly  leani  how  beautiful  is  Heaven  ! 

The  singer  rested  a  moment ;  then,  looking  in  the  eyes  of 
the  king,  with  a  rising  voice,  he  continued,  — 

Richest  hall  in  all  the  Vale  is  Quetzal's  — 

At  that  name  Montezuma  started.     The  minstrel  noted 
well  the  sign. 

O,  none  so  fair  as  Quetzal's  !    The  winds  that 
Play  among  its  silver  columns  are  Love's 
Light  laughter,  while  of  Love  is  all  the  air 
About.     From  its  orient  porch  the  young 
Mornings  glean  the  glory  with  which  they  rise 
On  earth. 

First  God  and  fairest  was  Quetzal'. 
As  him  0  none  so  full  of  holiness, 
And  by  none  were  men  so  lov'd  !    Sat  he  always 
In  his  hall,  in  deity  rob'd,  watching 
Humanity,  its  genius,  and  its  struggles 
Upward.     But  most  he  watch'd  its  wars,  —  no  hero 
Fell  but  he  call'd  the  wand'ring  soul  in  love 
To  rest  with  him  forever. 

Sat  he  once 
Thus  watching,  and  where  least  expected,  iu 


156  THE  FAIR  G0t>. 


The  far  North,  by  stormy  Winter  rul'd,  up 

From  the  snows  he  saw  a  Nation  rise.     Shook 

Their  bolts,  glistened  their  shields,  flashed  the 

Light  of  their  fierce  eyes.     A  king,  in  wolf-skin 

Girt,  pointed  Southward,  and  up  the  hills,  through 

The  air,  to  the  Sun,  flew  the  name  —  Azatlan. 

Then  march'd  they;  by  day  and  night  they  march'd,  — march'd 

Ever  South,  across  the  desert,  up  the 

Mountains,  down  the  mountains  ;  leaping  rivers, 

Smiting  foes,  taking  cities,  —  thus  they  march'd  ; 

Thus,  a  cloud  of  eagles,  roll'd  they  from  the 

North  ;  thus  on  the  South  they  fell,  as  autumn 

Frosts  upon  the  fruits  of  summer  fall. 

And  now  the  priests  were  glad,  —  the  singer  sung  of 
Heaven ;  and  the  warriors  were  aroused,  —  his  voice  was 
like  a  battle-cry,  and  the  theme  was  the  proud  tradition  of 
the  conquering  march  of  their  fathers  from  the  distant 
North.  Sitting  with  clasped  hands  and  drooped  head,  the 
king  followed  the  chant,  like  one  listening  to  an  oracle. 
Yet  stronger  grew  the  minstrel's  voice,  — 

Pass  'd 

Many  years  of  toil,  and  still  the  Nation  march'd ; 
Still  Southward  strode  the  king  ;  still  Sunward  rose 
The  cry  of  Azatlan  !  Azatlan  f    And 
Warmer,  truer,  brighter  grew  the  human 
Love  of  Quetzal'.     He  saw  them  reach  a  lake  ; 
As  dew  its  waves  were  clear ;  like  lover's  breath 
The  wind  flew  o'er  it.     'T  was  in  the  clime  of 
Starry  nights,  —  the  clime  of  orange-groves  and 
Plumy  palms. 

Then  Quetzal'  from  his  watching 
Rose.    Aside  he  flung  his  sunly  symbols. 
Like  a  falling  star,  from  the  Vale  of  Gods 
He  dropp'd ,  like  a  falling  star  shot  through  the 
Shoreless  space  ;  like  a  golden  morning  reach'd 
The  earth,  —  reach'd  the  lake.     Then  stay'd  the  Nation's 
March.     Still  Sunward  rose  the  cry,  but  Southward 
Strode  the  king  no  more. 

In  his  roomy  heart,  In 
The  chambers  of  its  love,  Quetzal'  took  the 


THE  CHANT.  157 


Nation.     He  swore  its  kings  should  be  his  sons,  — - 
They  should  conquer,  by  the  Sun,  he  swore  !     In 
The  laughing  Lake  he  bade  them  build  ;  and  up 
Sprang  Tenochtitlan,  of  the  human  love 
Of  Quetzal  child  ;  up  rose  its  fire-lit  towers, 
Outspread  its  piles,  outstretched  its  streets 
Of  stone  and  wave.     And  as  the  city  grew, 
Still  stronger  grew  the  love  of  Quetzal'. 

Thine 

Is  the  Empire.     To  the  shields  again,  0 
Azatlan  !    'T  was  thus  he  spoke  ;  and  feather'd 
Crest  and  oaken  spear,  the  same  that  from  the 
North  came  conquering,  through  the  valley, 
On  a  wave  of  war  went  swiftly  floating. 
Down  before  the  flaming  shields  fell  all  the 
Neighb'ring  tribes  ;  open  flew  the  cities'  gates  ; 
Fighting  kings  gave  up  their  crowns  ;  from  the  hills 
The  Chichimecan  fled  ;  on  temple  towers 
The  Toltec  fires  to  scattering  ashes 
Died.     Like  a  scourge  upon  the  city,  like 
A  fire  across  the  plain,  like  storms  adown 
The  mountain,  —  such  was  Azatlan  that  day 
It  went  to  battle  !    Like  a  monarch  'mid 
His  people,  like  a  god  amid  the  Heavens, 
O  such  was  Azatlan,  victor  from  the 
Battle,  the  Empire  in  its  hand  ! 

At  this  point  the  excitement  of  the  audience  rose  into 
interruption :  they  clapped  their  hands  and  stamped ;  some 
shouted.  As  the  strong  voice  rolled  the  grand  story  on, 
even  the  king's  dread  of  the  god  disappeared  ;  and  had  the 
'tzin  concluded  then,  the  prize  had  certainly  been  his.  But 
when  the  silence  was  restored,  he  resumed  the  attitude  so 
proper  to  his  disguise,  and,  sinking  his  voice  and  changing 
the  measure  of  the  chant,  solemnly  proceeded,  — 

A.S  the  river  runneth  ever,  like  the  river  ran  the  love  of 

Quetzal'.    The  clime  grew  softer,  and  the  Vale  fairer.     To  weave,  and 

trade, 
And  sow,  and  build,  he  taught,  with  countless  other  ways  of  peace.     He 

broke 
The  seals  of  knowledge,  and  unveiled  the  mystic  paths  of  wisdom ; 


158  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


Gathered  gold  from  the  earth,  and  jewels  from,  the  streams  ;  and  happy 
Peace,  as  terrible  in  war,  became  Azatlan.     Only  one  more 
Blessing,  —  a  religion  sounding  of  a  quiet  heaven  and  a 
Godly  love,  —  this  only  wanted  Azatlan.     And  alas,  for  the 
Sunly  Quetzal'  !    He  built  a  temple,  with  a  single  tower,  a 
Temple  over  many  chambers." 

Slowly  the  'tzin  repeated  the  last  sentence,  and  under  his 
gaze  the  monarch's  face  changed  visibly. 

Worship  he  asked,  and  offerings, 

And  sacrifices,  not  of  captives,  heart-broken  and  complaining, 
But  of  blooming  flowers,  and  ripened  fruits,  emblems  of  love,  and  peace, 
And  beauty.     Alas,  for  the  gentle  Quetzal'  !    Cold  grew  the  people 
Lov'd  so  well.     A  little  while  they  worshipped  ;  then,  as  bees  go  no 
More  to  a  withered  flower,  they  forsook  his  shrine,  and  mock'd  his 
Image.     His  love,  longest  lingering,  went  down  at  last,  but  slowly 
Went,  as  the  brook,  drop  by  drop,  runs  dry  in  the  drought  of  a  rainless 
Summer.     Wrath  'rose  instead.     Down  in  a  chamber  below  the  temple, 
A  chamber  full  of  gold  and  unveiled  splendor,  beneath  the  Lake  that 
Long  had  ceased  its  laughing,  thither  went  the  god,  and  on  the  walls, 
On  the  marble  and  the  gold,  he  wrote  — 

The  improvisation,  if  such  it  was,  now  wrought  its  full 
effect  upon  Montezuma,  who  saw  the  recital  coming  nearer 
and  nearer  to  the  dread  mysteries  of  the  golden  chamber  in 
the  old  Cu.  At  the  beginning  of  the  last  sentence,  the 
blood  left  his  face,  and  he  leaned  forward  as  if  to  check  the 
speech,  at  the  same  time  some  master  influence  held  him 
wordless.  His  look  was  that  of  one  seeing  a  vision.  The 
vagaries  of  a  mind  shaken  by  days  and  nights  of  trouble 
are  wonderful ;  sometimes  they  are  fearfuL  How  easy  for 
his  distempered  fancy  to  change  the  minstrel,  with  his  white 
locks  and  venerable  countenance,  into  a  servant  of  Quetzal', 
sent  by  the  god  to  confirm  the  interpretation  and  prophecies 
of  his  other  servant  Mualox.  At  the  last  word,  he  arose, 
and,  with  an  imperial  gesture,  cried,  — 

"  Peace  —  enough  !  " 

Then  his  utterance  failed  him,  —  another  vision  seemed 


THE  CHANT.  159 


to  fix  his  gaze.  The  audience,  thrilling  with  fear,  turned  to 
see  what  he  saw,  and  heard  a  commotion,  which,  from  the 
further  end  of  the  hall,  drew  slowly  near  the  throne,  and 
ceased  not  until  Mualox,  in  his  sacrificial  robes,  knelt  upon 
the  step  in  the  minstrel's  place.  Montezuma  dropped  into 
his  throne,  and,  covering  his  eyes  with  his  hands,  said 
faintly,  — 

"  Evil  betides  me,  father,  evil  betides  me  1  But  I  am  a 
king.  Speak  what  you  can  !  " 

Mualox  prostrated  himself  until  his  white  hair  covered 
his  master's  feet. 

"Again,  0  king,  your  servant  comes  speaking  for  his 
god." 

"  For  the  god,  Mualox  ] " 

The  hall  became  silent  as  a  tomb. 

"  I  come,"  the  holy  man  continued,  "  to  tell  the  king  that 
Quetzal'  has  landed,  this  time  on  the  sea-shore  in  Cempoalla. 
At  set  of  sun  his  power  was  collected  on  the  beach.  Summon 
all  your  wisdom,  —  the  end  is  at  hand." 

All  present  and  hearing  listened  awe-struck.  Of  the  war 
riors,  not  one,  however  battle-tried,  but  trembled  with  unde 
fined  terror.  And  who  may  accuse  them?  The  weakness 
was  from  fear  of  a  supposed  god  ;  their  heathen  souls,  after 
the  manner  of  the  Christian,  asked,  Who  may  war  against 
Heaven  1 

"  Eise,  Mualox  !  You  love  me  ;  I  have  no  better  servant," 
said  the  king,  with  dignity,  but  so  sadly  that  even  the  proph 
et's  heart  was  touched.  "It  is  not  for  me  to  say  if  your 
news  be  good  or  evil.  All  things,  even  my  Empire,  are  in  the 
care  of  the  gods.  To-morrow  I  will  hold  a  council  to  deter 
mine  how  this  visit  may  be  best  met."  With  a  mighty  ef 
fort  he  freed  his  spirit  of  the  influence  of  the  untimely  visi 
tation,  and  said,  with  a  show  of  unconcern,  "  Leave  the 
morrow  to  whom  it  belongs,  my  children.  Let  us  now  to 


160  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


the  ceremony  which  was  to  crown  the  night.  Come  forward, 
son  of 'Hualpilli !  Eoom  for  the. lord  Iztlil',  my  friends  ! " 

Tula  looked  down,  and  the  queen  Tecalco  bowed  her  face 
upon  the  shoulder  of  the  queen  Acatlan ;  and  immediately, 
all  differences  lost  in  loving  loyalty,  the  caciques  and  chiefs 
gathered  before  him,  —  a  nobility  as  true  and  chivalric  as  ever 
fought  beneath  an  infidel  banner. 

And  they  waited,  but  the  Tezcucan  came  not. 

"  Go,  Maxtla.  Seek  the  lord  Iztlil',  and  bring  him  to  my 
presence." 

Through  the  palace  and  through  the  gardens  they  sought 
the  recreant  lover.  And  the  silence  of  the  waiting  in  the 
great  hall  was  painful.  Guest  looked  in  the  face  of  guest, 
mute,  yet  asking  much.  The  prince  Cacama  whispered  to 
the  prince  Cuitlahua,  "It  is  a  happy  interference  of  the 
gods !  " 

Tecalco  wept  on,  but  not  from  sorrow,  and  the  eyes  of  the 
devoted  princess  were  lustrous  for  the  first  time ;  hope  had 
come  back  to  the  darkened  soul. 

And  the  monarch  said  little,  and  erelong  retired.  A  great 
portion  of  the  company,  despite  his  injunction,  speedily  fol 
lowed  his  example,  leaving  the  younger  guests,  with  what  hu 
mor  they  could  command,  to  continue  the  revel  till  morning. 

Next  day  at  noon  couriers  from  Cempoalla  confirmed  the 
announcement  of  Mualox.  Cortes  had  indeed  landed  ;  and 
that  Good  Friday  was  the  last  of  the  perfect  glory  of  Ana- 
huac. 

Poor  king  !  Not  long  now  until  I  may  sing  for  thee  the 
lamentation  of  the  Gothic  Roderick,  whose  story  is  but  little 
less  melancholy  than  thine. 

He  look'd  for  the  brave  captains  that  led  the  hosts  of  Spain, 

But  all  were  fled,  except  the  dead,  —  and  who  could  count  the  slain  ? 

Where'er  his  eye  could  wander  all  bloody  was  the  plain  ; 

And  while  thus  he  said  the  tears  he  shed  rail  down  his  cheeks  like  rain. 


THE  CHANT.  161 


Last  night  I  was  the  king  of  Spain  :  to-day  no  king  am  I. 
Last  night  fair  castles  held  my  train  :  to-night  where  shall  I  lie  ? 
Last  night  a  hundred  pages  did  serve  me  on  the  knee, 
To-night  not  one  I  call  my  own,  —  not  one  pertains  to  me.* 

*  The  fifth  and  sixth  verses  of  the  famous  Spanish  ballad,  "  The  Lamen 
tation  of  Don  Roderic."  The  translation  I  have  borrowed  from  Lockhart's 
Spanish  Ballads.  —  TR. 


BOOK    THREE. 

CHAPTEE  I. 

THE    FIRST    COMBAT. 

E  'tzin's  companion  the  night  of  the  banquet,  as  the 
_1_  reader  has  no  doubt  anticipated,  was  Hualpa,  the  Ti- 
huancan.  To  an  adventure  of  his,  more  luckless  than  his 
friend's,  I  now  turn. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  'tzin  left  him  at  the  door 
of  the  great  hall.  In  a  strange  scene,  without  a  guide,  it  was 
natural  for  him  to  be  ill  at  ease  ;  light-hearted  and  fearless, 
however,  he  strolled  leisurely  about,  at  one  place  stopping  to 
hear  a  minstrel,  at  another  to  observe  a  dance,  and  all  the 
time  half  confused  by  the  maze  and  splendor  of  all  he  be 
held.  In  such  awe  stood  he  of  the  monarch,  that  he  gave  the 
throne  a  wide  margin,  contented  from  a  distance  to  view  the 
accustomed  interchanges  of  courtesy  between  the  guests  and 
their  master.  Finding,  at  last,  that  he  could  not  break 
through  the  bashfulness  acquired  in  his  solitary  life  among 
the  hills,  and  imitate  the  ease  and  nonchalance  of  those 
born,  as  it  were,  to  the  lordliness  of  the  hour,  he  left  the 
house,  and  once  more  sought  the  retiracy  of  the  gardens. 
Out  of  doors,  beneath  the  stars,  with  the  fresh  air  in  his 
nostrils,  he  felt  at  home  again,  the  whilom  hunter,  ready  for 
any  emprise. 

As  to  the  walk  he  should  follow  he  had  no  choice,  for  in 
every  direction  he  heard  laughter,  music,  and  conversation ; 
everywhere  were  flowers  and  the  glow  of  lamps.  Merest 


THE  FIRST  COMBAT.  163 

chance  put  him  in  a  path  that  led  to  the  neighborhood  of 
the  museum. 

Since  the  night  shut  in,  —  be  it  said  in  a  whisper,  —  a 
memory  of  wonderful  brightness  had  taken  possession  of  his 
mind.  Nenetzin's  face,  as  he  saw  it  laughing  in  the  door  of 
ihe  kiosk  when  Yeteve  called  the  'tzin  for  a  song,  he  thought 
outshone  the  lamplight,  the  flowers,  and  everything  most 
beautiful  about  his  path ;  her  eyes  were  as  stars,  rivalling  the 
insensate  ones  in  the  mead  above  him.  He  remembered 
them,  too,  as  all  the  brighter  for  the  tears  through  which 
they  had  looked  down,  —  alas  !  not  on  him,  but  upon  his  rev 
erend  comrade.  If  Hualpa  was  not  in  love,  he  was,  at  least, 
borrowing  wings  for  a  flight  of  that  kind. 

Indulging  the  delicious  revery,  he  came  upon  some  nobles, 
conversing,  and  quite  blocking  up  the  way,  though  going  in 
his  direction.  He  hesitated ;  but,  considering  that,  as  a 
guest,  the  freedom  of  the  garden  belonged  equally  to  him, 
he  proceeded,  and  became  a  listener. 

"  People  call  him  a  warrior.  They  know  nothing  of  what 
makes  a  warrior ;  they  mistake  good  fortune,  or  what  the 
traders  in  the  tianguez  call  luck,  for  skill.  Take  his  conduct 
at  the  combat  of  Quetzal'  as  an  example ;  say  he  threw  his 
arrows  well :  yet  it  was  a  cowardly  war.  How  much  braver 
to  grasp  the  maquahuitl,  and  rush  to  blows  !  That  requires 
manhood,  strength,  skill.  To  stand  back,  and  kill  with  a 
chance  arrow,  —  a  woman  could  do  as  much." 

The  'tzin  was  the  subject  of  discussion,  and  the  voice 
that  of  Iztlil',  the  Tezcucan.  Hualpa  moved  closer  to  the 
party. 

"  I  thought  his  course  in  that  combat  good,"  said  a  strati 
ger ;  "  it  gave  him  opportunities  not  otherwise  to  be  had. 
That  he  did  not  join  the  assault  cannot  be  urged  against  his 
courage.  Had  you,  my  lord  Iztlil',  fallen  like  the  Otompan, 
he  would  have  been  left  alone  to  fight  the  challengers.  A 


164  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


fool  would  have  seen  the  risk ;  a  coward  would  not  have 
courted  it." 

"  That  argument,"  replied  IztliP,  "  is  crediting  him  with 
too  much  shrewdness.  By  the  gods,  he  never  doubted  the 
result,  —  not  he !  He  knew  the  Tlascalans  would  never 
pass  my  shield  ;  he  knew  the  victory  was  mine,  two  against 
me  as  there  were.  A  prince  of  Tezcuco  was  never  con- 
'quered !  " 

The  spirit  of  the  hunter  was  fast  rising ;  yet  he  followed, 
listening. 

"  And,  my  friends,"  the  Tezcucan  continued,  "  who  better 
judged  the  conduct  of  the  combatants  that  day  than  the 
king  1  See  the  result.  To-night  I  take  from  the  faint  heart 
his  bride,  the  woman  he  has  loved  from  boyhood.  Then  this 
banquet.  In  whose  honor  is  it  1  What  does  it  celebrate  ] 
There  is  a  prize  to  be  awarded,  —  the  prize  of  courage  and 
skill ;  and  who  gets  it  ?  And  further,  of  the  nobles  and 
chiefs  of  the  valley,  but  one  is  absent,  —  he  whose  pru 
dence  exceeds  his  valor." 

In  such  strain  the  Tezcucan  proceeded.  And  Hualpa,  fully 
aroused,  pushed  through  the  company  to  the  speaker,  but  so 
quietly  that  those  who  observed  him  asked  no  questions. 
Assured  that  the  'tzin  must  have  friends  present,  he  waited 
for  some  one  to  take  up  his  cause.  His  own  impulse  was 
restrained  by  his  great  dread  of  the  king,  whose  gardens  he 
knew  were  not  fighting-grounds  at  any  time  or  in  any  quar 
rel.  But,  as  the  boastful  prince  continued,  the  resolve  to 
punish  him  took  definite  form  with  the  Tihuancan,  —  to 
such  degree  had  his  admiration  for  the  'tzin  already  risen  ! 
Gradually  the  auditors  dropped  behind  or  disappeared ; 
finally  but  one  remained,  —  a  middle-aged,  portly  noble, 
whose  demeanor  was  not  of  the  kind  to  shake  the  resolution 
taken. 

Hualpa  made  his  first  advance  close  by  the  eastern  gate  of 


THE  FIRST  COMBAT.  165 

the  garden,  to  which  point  he  held  himself  in  check  lest 
the  want  of  arms  should  prove  an  apology  for  refusing  the 
fight. 

"  Will  the  lord  Iztlil'  stop  1 "  he  said,  laying  his  hand  on 
the  Tezcucan's  arm. 

"  I  do  not  know  you,"  was  the  answer. 

The  sleek  courtier  also  stopped,  and  stared  broadly. 

"  You  do  not  know  me  !  I  will  mend  my  fortune  in  that 
respect,"  returned  the  hunter,  mildly.  "  I  have  heard  what 
you  said  so  ungraciously  of  my  friend  and  comrade,"  —  the 
last  word  he  emphasized  strongly, — "Guatamozin."  Then 
he  repeated  the  offensive  words  as  correctly  as  if  he  had  been 
a  practised  herald,  and  concluded,  "  Now,  you  know  the  'tzin 
cannot  be  here  to-night ;  you  also  know  the  reason ;  but,  for 
him  and  in  his  place,  I  say,  prince  though  you  are,  you  have 
basely  slandered  an  absent  enemy." 

"  Who  are  you  ? "  asked  the  Tezcucan,  surprised. 

"  The  comrade  of  Guatamozin,  here  to  take  up  his  quar 
rel." 

"  You  challenge  me  1 "  said  Iztlil',  in  disdain. 

"  Does  a  prince  of  Tezcuco,  son  of  'Hualpilli,  require  a 
blow  ?  Take  it  then." 

The  blow  was  given. 

"  See  !  Do  I  not  bring  you  princely  blood  1 "  And,  in  his 
turn,  Hualpa  laughed  scornfully. 

The  Tezcucan  was  almost  choked  with  rage.  "  This  to 
me,  —  to  me,  —  a  prince  and  warrior  ! "  he  cried. 

A  danger  not  considered  by  the  rash  hunter  now  offered 
itself.  An  outcry  would  bring  down  the  guard ;  and,  in 
the  event  of  his  arrest,  the  united  representations  of  Iztlil' 
and  his  friend  would  be  sufficient  to  have  him  sent  forthwith 
to  the  tigers.  The  pride  of  the  prince  saved  him. 

"  Have  a  care,  —  't  is  an  assassin  !  I  will  call  the  guard  at 
the  gate  !  "  said  the  courtier,  alarmed. 


166  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Call  them  not,  call  them  not !  I  am  equal  to  my  own 
revenge.  0,  for  a  spear  or  knife,  —  anything  to  kill !  " 

"  Will  you  hear  me,  —  a  word  1 "  the  hunter  said.  "  I  am 
without  arms  also  ;  but  they  can  be  had." 

"  The  arms,  the  arms  !  "  cried  IztliT,  passionately. 

"  We  can  make  the  sentinels  at  the  gate  clever  by  a  few 
quills  of  gold;  and  here  are  enough  to  satisfy  them."  Hual- 
pa  produced  a  handful  of  the  money.  "  Let  us  try  them. 
Outside  the  gate  the  street  is  clear." 

The  courtier  protested,  but  the  prince  was  determined. 

"  The  arms  !  Pledge  my  province  and  palaces,  —  every 
thing  for  a  maquahuitl  now." 

They  went  to  the  gate  and  obtained  the  use  of  two  of  the 
weapons  and  as  many  shields.  Then  the  party  passed  into 
the  street,  which  they  found  deserted.  To  avoid  the  great 
thoroughfare  to  Iztapalapan,  they  turned  to  the  north,  and 
kept  on  as  far  as  the  corner  of  the  garden  wall. 

"  Stay  we  here,"  said  the  courtier.  "  Short  time  is  all  you 
want,  lord  Iztlil'.  The  feathers  on  the  hawk's  wings  are  not 
full-fledged." 

The  man  spoke  confidently ;  and  it  must  be  confessed  that 
the  Tezcucan's  reputation  and  experience  justified  the  assur 
ance.  One  advantage  the  hunter  had  which  his  enemies 
both  overlooked,  —  a  surpassing  composure.  From  a  temple 
near  by  a  red  light  flared  broadly  over  the  place,  redeeming 
it  from  what  would  otherwise  have  been  vague  starlight ;  by 
its  aid  they  might  have  seen  his  countenance  without  a  trace 
of  excitement  or  passion.  One  wish,  and  but  one,  he  had,  — 
that  Guatamozin  could  witness  the  trial. 

The  impatience  of  the  Tezcucan  permitted  but  few  pre 
liminaries. 

"  The  gods  of  Mictlan  require  no  prayers.  Stand  out !  " 
he  said. 

"  Strike  !  "  answered  Hualpa. 


THE  FIRST  COMBAT.  167 

Up  rose  the  glassy  blades  of  the  Tezcucan,  flashing  in  the 
light;  quick  and  strong  the  blow,  yet  it  clove  but  the 
empty  air.  "  For  the  'tzin  !  "  shouted  the  hunter,  striking 
back  before  the  other  was  half  recovered.  The  shield  was 
dashed  aside  ;  a  groan  acknowledged  a  wound  in  the  breast, 
and  Iztlil'  staggered  ;  another  blow  stretched  him  on  the 
pavement.  A  stream  of  blood,  black  in  the  night,  stole 
slowly  out  over  the  flags.  The  fight  was  over.  The  victor 
dropped  the  bladed  end  of  his  weapon,  and  surveyed  his  foe, 
with  astonishment,  then  pity. 

"  Your  friend  is  hurt ;  help  him  !  "  he  said,  turning  to  the 
courtier ;  but  he  was  alone,  —  the  craven  had  run.  For 
one  fresh  from  the  hills,  this  was  indeed  a  dilemma  !  A 
duel  and  a  death  in  sight  of  the  royal  palace  !  A  chill 
tingled  through  his  veins.  He  thought  rapidly  of  the  alarm, 
the  arrest,  the  king's  wrath,  and  himself  given  to  glut  the 
monsters  in  the  menagerie.  Up  rose,  also,  the  many  fast 
nesses  amid  the  cedared  glades  of  Tihuanco.  Could  he  but 
reach  them  !  The  slaves  of  Montezuma,  to  please  a  whim, 
might  pursue  and  capture  a  quail  or  an  eagle  ;  but  there  he 
could  laugh  at  pursuit,  while  in  Tenochtitlan  he  was  nowhere 
safe. 

Sight  of  the  flowing  blood  brought  him  out  of  the  panic. 
He  raised  the  Tezcucan's  arm,  and  tore  the  rich  vestments 
from  his  breast.  The  wound  was  a  glancing  one ;  it  might 
not  be  fatal  after  all ;  to  save  him  were  worth  the  trial.  Tak 
ing  off  his  own  maxtlatl,  he  wound  it  tightly  round  the  body 
and  over  the  cut.  Across  the  street  there  was  a  small,  open 
house ;  lifting  the  wounded  man  gently  as  possible,  he  carried 
him  thither,  and  laid  him  in  a  darkened  passage.  Where 
else  to  convey  him  he  knew  not ;  that  was  all  he  could  do. 
Kow  for  flight,  —  for  Tihuanco.  Tireless  and  swift  of  foot 
shall  they  be  who  catch  him  on  the  way  ! 

He  started  for  the  lake,  intending  to  cross  in  a  canoe  rather 


168  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


than  by  the  causeway ;  already  a  square  was  put  behind, 
when  it  occurred  to  him  that  the  Tezcucan  might  have  slaves 
and  a  palanquin  waiting  before  the  palace  door.  He  began, 
also,  to  reproach  himself  for  the  baseness  of  the  desertion. 
How  would  the  'tzin  have  acted  1  When  the  same  Tezcucan 
lay  with  the  dead  in  the  arena,  who  nursed  him  back  to  life  ? 

If  Hualpa  had  wished  his  patron's  presence  at  the  begin 
ning  of  the  combat,  now,  flying  from  imaginary  dangers,  — 
flying,  like  a  startled  coward,  from  his  very  victory,  —  much 
did  he  thank  the  gods  that  he  was  alone  and  unseen.  In  a 
kind  of  alcove,  or  resting-place  for  weary  walkers,  with 
which,  by  the  way,  the  thoroughfares  of  Tenochtitlan  were 
well  provided,  he  sat  down,  recalled  his  wonted  courage,  and 
determined  on  a  course  more  manly,  whatever  the  risk. 

Then  he  retraced  his  steps,  and  went  boldly  to  the  portal 
of  the  palace,  where  he  found  the  Tezcucan's  palanquin. 
The  slaves  in  charge  followed  him  without  objection.  • 

"  Take  your  master  to  his  own  palace.  Be  quick  !  "  he 
,said  to  them,  when  the  wounded  man  was  transferred  to  the 
carriage. 

"  It  is  in  Tecuba,"  said  one  of  them. 

"ToTecubathen." 

He  did  more ;  he  accompanied  the  slaves.  Along  the 
street,  across  the  causeway,  which  never  seemed  of  such 
weary  length,  they  proceeded.  On  the  road  the  Tezcucan 
revived.  He  said  little,  and  was  passive  in  his  enemy's 
hands.  From  Tecuba  the  latter  hastened  back  to  Tenochtit 
lan,  and  reached  the  portico  of  Xoli,  the  Chalcan,  just  as 
day  broke  over  the  valley. 

And  such  was  the  hunter's  first  emprise  as  a  warrior. 


THE  SECOND  COMBAT.  169 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE   SECOND    COMBAT. 

IT  is  hardly  worth  while  to  detail  the  debate  between 
Hualpa  and  Xoli ;  enough  to  know  that  the  latter,  an 
ticipating  pursuit,  hid  the  son  of  his  friend  in  a  closet  attached 
to  his  restaurant. 

That  day,  and  many  others,  the  police  went  lip  and  down, 
ferreting  for  the  assassin  of  the  noble  IztliT.  Few  premises 
escaped  their  search.  The  Chalcan's,  amongst  others,  was 
examined,  but  without  discovery.  Thus  safely  concealed,  the 
hunter  throve  on  the  cuisine,  and  for  the  loss  of  liberty  was 
consoled  by  the  gossip  and  wordy  wisdom  of  his  accessory, 
and,  by  what  was  better,  the  gratitude  of  Guatamozin.  In 
such  manner  two  weeks  passed  away,  the  longest  and  most 
wearisome  of  his  existence.  How  sick  at  heart  he  grew  in 
his  luxurious  imprisonment ;  how  he  pined  for  the  old  hills 
and  woodlands ;  how  he  longed  once  more  to  go  down  the 
shaded  vales  free-footed  and  fearless,  stalking  deer  or  follow 
ing  his  ocelot.  Ah,  what  is  ambition  gratified  to  freedom 
lost! 

Unused  to  the  confinement,  it  became  irksome  to  him,  and 
at  length  intolerable.  "  When,"  he  asked  himself,  "  is  this  to 
end  ?  Will  the  king  ever  withdraw  his  huntsmen  ?  Through 
whom  am  I  to  look  or  hope  for  pardon  ? "  He  sighed,  paced 
the  narrow  closet,  and  determined  that  night  to  walk  out  and 
see  if  his  old  friends  the  stars  were  still  in  their  places,  and 
take  a  draught  of  the  fresh  air,  to  his  remembrance  sweeter 
than  the  new  beverage  of  the  Chalcan..  And  when  the  night 
came  he  was  true  to  his  resolution. 

Pass  we  his  impatience  while  waiting  an  opportunity  to 
8 


170  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


leave  the  house  unobserved ;  his  attempts  unsuccessfully  re 
peated  ;  his  vexation  at  the  "  noble  patrons  "  who  lounged 
in  the  apartments  and  talked  so  long  over  their  goblets.  At 
a  late  hour  he  made  good  his  exit.  In  the  tianguez,  which 
was  the  first  to  receive  him,  booths  and  porticos  were  closed 
for  the  night ;  lights  were  everywhere  extinguished,  except 
on  the  towers  of  the  temples.  As  morning  would  end  his 
furlough  and  drive  him  back  to  the  hated  captivity,  he  re 
solved  to  make  the  most  of  the  night ;  he  would  visit  the 
lake,  he  would  stroll  through  the  streets.  By  the  gods  !  he 
would  play  freeman  to  the  full. 

In  his  situation,  all  places  were  alike  perilous,  —  houses, 
streets,  temples,  and  palaces.  As,  for  that  reason,  one  direc 
tion  was  good  as  another,  he  started  up  the  Iztapalapan  street 
from  the  tianguez.  Passengers  met  him  now  and  then ; 
otherwise  the  great  thoroughfare  was  unusually  quiet.  Saun 
tering  along  in  excellent  imitation  of  careless  enjoyment,  he 
strove  to  feel  cheerful ;  but,  in  spite  of  his  efforts,  he  became 
lonesome,  while  his  dread  of  the  patrols  kept  him  uneasy. 
Such  freedom,  he  ascertained,  was  not  all  his  fancy  colored 
it ;  yet  it  was  not  so  bad  as  his  prison.  On  he  went.  Some 
times  on  a  step,  or  in  the  shade  of  a  portico,  he  would 
sit  and  gaze  at  the  houses  as  if  they  were  old  friends 
basking  in  the  moonlight ;  at  the  bridges  he  would  also  stop, 
and,  leaning  over  the  balustrades,  watch  the  waveless  water 
in  the  canal  below,  and  envy  the  watermen  asleep  in  their 
open  canoes.  The  result  was  a  feeling  of  recklessness, 
sharpened  by  a  yearning  for  something  to  do,  some  place 
to  visit,  some  person  to  see;  in  short,  a  thousand  wishes, 
so  vague,  however,  that  they  amounted  to  nothing. 

In  this  mood  he  thought  of  Nenetzin,  who,  in  the  tedium 
of  his  imprisonment,  had  become  to  him  a  constant  dream,  — 
a  vision  by  which  his  fancy  was  amused  and  his  impatience 
Boothed ;  a  vision  that  faded  not  with  the  morning,  but  at 


THE  SECOND  COMBAT.  171 

noon  was  sweet  as  at  night.     With  the  thought  came  anoth 
er,  —  the  idea  of  an  adventure  excusable  only  in  a  lover. 

"  The  garden  !  "  he  said,  stopping  and  thinking.  "  The 
garden  !  It  is  the  king's  ;  so  is  the  street. '  It  is  guarded ; 
so  is  the  city.  I  will  be  in  danger  ;  but  that  is  around  me 
everywhere.  By  the  gods !  I  will  go  to  the  garden,  and 
look  at  the  house  in  which  she  sleeps." 

Invade  the  gardens  of  the  great  king  at  midnight !  The 
project  would  have  terrified  the  Chalcan  ;  the  'tzin  would 
have  forbade  it ;  at  any  other  time,  the  adventurer  himself 
would  rather  have  gone  unarmed  into  the  den  of  a  tiger. 
The  gardens  were  chosen  places  sacred  to  royalty  ;  otherwise 
they  would  have  been  without  walls  and  without  sentinels 
at  the  gates.  In  the  event  of  detection  and  arrest,  the 
intrusion  at  such  a  time  would  be  without  excuse;  death 
was  the  penalty. 

But  the  venture  was  agreeable  to  the  mood  he  was  in ;  he 
welcomed  it  as  a  relief  from  loneliness,  as  a  rescue  from  his 
tormenting  void  of  purpose ;  if  he  saw  the  dangers,  they 
were  viewed  in  the  charm  of  his  gentle  passion,  —  griffins 
and  goblins  masked  by  Love,  the  enchanter.  He  started  at 
once  ;  and  now  that  he  had  an  object  before  him,  there  was 
no  more  loitering  under  porticos  or  on  the  bridges.  As  the 
squares  were  put  behind  him,  he  repeated  over  and  over,  as 
a  magical  exorcism,  "  I  will  look  at  the  house  in  which  she 
sleeps,  — the  house  in  which  she  sleeps." 

Once  in  his  progress,  he  turned  aside  from  the  great  street, 
and  went  up  a  footway  bordering  a  canal.  At  the  next  street, 
however,  he  crossed  a  bridge,  and  proceeded  to  the  north 
again.  Almost  before  he  was  aware  of  it,  he  reached  the 
corner  of  the  royal  garden,  always  to  be  remembered  by  him 
as  the  place  of  his  combat  with  the  Tezcucan.  But  so  intent 
was  he  upon  his  present  project  he  scarcely  gave  it  a  second 
look. 


172         v  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


The  wall  was  but  little  higher  than  his  head,  and  covered 
with  snowy  stucco ;  and  where,  over  the  coping,  motionless 
in  the  moonshine,  a  palm-tree  lifted  its  graceful  head,  he 
boldly  climbed, 'and  entered  the  sacred  enclosure.  Drawing 
his  mantle  close  about  him,  he  stole  toward  the  palace, 
selecting  the  narrow  walks  most  protected  by  overhanging 
shrubbery. 

A  man's  instinct  is  a  good  counsellor  in  danger ;  often 
it  is  the  only  counsellor.  Gliding  through  the  shadows, 
cautiously  as  if  hunting,  he  seemed  to  hear  a  recurrent 
whisper,  — 

"  Have  a  care,  0  hunter !  This  is  not  one  of  thy 
familiar  places.  The  gardens  of  the  great  king  have  other 
guardians  than  the  stars.  Death  awaits  thee  at  every  gate." 

But  as  often  came  the  reply,  "  Nenetzin,  —  I  will  see 
the  house  in  which  she  sleeps." 

He  held  on  toward  the  palace,  never  stopping  until  the 
top,  here  and  there  crowned  with  low  turrets,  rose  above 
the  highest  trees.  Then  he  listened  intently,  but  heard  not 
a  sound  of  life  from  the  princely  pile.  He  sought  next 
a  retreat,  where,  secure  from  observation,  he  might  sit  in 
the  pleasant  air,  and  give  wings  to  his  lover's  fancy.  At 
last  he  found  one,  a  little  retired  from  the  central  walk,  and 
not  far  from  a  tank,  which  had  once  been,  if  it  were  not  now, 
the  basin  of  a  fountain.  Upon  a  bench,  well  shaded  by  a 
clump  of  flowering  bushes,  he  stretched  himself  at  ease,  and 
was  soon  absorbed. 

The  course  of  his  thought,  in  keeping  with  his  youth,  was 
to  the  future.  Most  of  the  time,  however,  he  had  no  distinct 
idea ;  revery,  like  an  evening  mist,  settled  upon  him.  Some 
times  he  lay  with  closed  eyes,  shutting  himself  in,  as  it 
were,  from  the  world ;  then  he  stared  vacantly  at  the  stars, 
or  into  those  blue  places  in  the  mighty  vault  too  deep  foi 
stars ;  but  most  he  loved  to  look  at  the  white  walls  of  the 


THE  SECOND  COMBAT.  173 

palace.  And  for  the  time  he  was  happy ;  his  soul  may  be 
said  to  have  been  singing  a  silent  song  to  the  unconscious 
Nenetzin. 

Once  or  twice  he  was  disturbed  by  a  noise,  like  the 
suppressed  cry  of  a  child ;  but  he  attributed  it  to  some 
of  the  restless  animals  in  the  museum  at  the  farther  side 
of  the  garden.  Half  the  night  was  gone ;  so  the  watchers 
on  the  temples  proclaimed ;  and  still  he  stayed,  —  still 
dreamed. 

About  that  time,  however,  he  was  startled  by  footsteps 
coming  apparently  from  the  palace.  He  sat  up,  ready  for 
action.  The  appearance  of  a  man  alone  and  unarmed 
allayed  his  apprehension  for  the  moment.  Up  the  walk, 
directly  by  the  hiding-place,  the  stranger  came.  As  he 
passed  slowly  on,  the  intruder  thrilled  at  beholding,  not 
a  guard  or  an  officer,  but  Montezuma  in  person !  As  far 
as  the  tank  the  monarch  walked  ;  there  he  stopped,  put  his 
hands  behind  him,  and  loooked  moodily  down  into  the  pool. 

Garden,  palace,  Nenetzin, —  everything  but  the  motionless 
figure  by  the  tank  faded  from  Hualpa's  mind.  Fear  came 
upon  him ;  and  no  wonder  :  there,  almost  within  reach,  at 
midnight,  unattended,  stood  what  was  to  him  the  positive 
realization  of  power,  ruler  of  the  Empire,  dispenser  of  richest 
gifts,  keeper  of  life  and  death  !  Guilty,  and  tremulously 
apprehensive  that  he  had  been  discovered,  Hualpa  looked 
each  instant  to  be  dragged  from  his  hiding. 

The  space  around  the  tank  was  clear,  and  strewn  with 
shells  perfectly  white  in  the  moonlight.  While  the  adven 
turer  sat  fixed  to  his  seat,  watching  the  king,  watching,  also, 
a  chance  of  escape,  he  saw  something  come  from  the  shrub 
bery,  move  stealthily  out  into  the  walk,  then  crouch  down. 
Now,  as  I  have  shown,  he  was  brave  ;  but  this  tested  all  his 
courage.  Out  further  crept  the  object,  moving  with  the 
stillness  of  a  spirit  Scarcely  could  he  persuade  himself  at 


174  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


first  that  it  was  not  an  illusion  begotten  of  his  fears  ;  but  its 
form  and  movements,  the  very  stillness  of  its  advance,  at 
last  identified  it.  In  all  his  hunter's  experience,  he  had 
never  seen  an  ocelot  so  large.  The  screams  he  had  heard 
were  now  explained,  —  the  monster  had  escaped  from  the 
menagerie ! 

I  cannot  say  the  recognition  wrought  a  subsidence  of 
Hualpa's  fears.  He  felt  instinctively  for  his  arms,  —  he  had 
nothing  but  a  knife  of  brittle  itzli.  Then  he  thought  of  the 
stories  he  had  heard  of  the  ferocity  of  the  royal  tigers, 
and  of  unhappy  wretches  flung,  by  way  of  punishment, 
into  their  dens.  He  shuddered,  and  turned  to  the  king, 
who  still  gazed  thoughtfully  over  the  wall  of  the  tank. 

Holy  HuitziT !  the  ocelot  was  creeping  upon  the  mon 
arch  !  The  flash  of  understanding  that  revealed  the  fact  to 
Hualpa  was  like  the  lightning.  Breathlessly  he  noticed  the 
course  the  brute  was  taking;  there  could  be  no  doubt. 
Another  flash,  and  he  understood  the  monarch's  peril,  — 
alone,  unarmed,  before  the  guards  at  the  gates  or  in  the 
palace  could  come,  the  struggle  would  be  over ;  child  of 
the  Sun  though  he  was,  there  remained  for  him  but  one 
hope  of  rescue. 

As,  in  common  with  provincials  generally,  he  cherished  a 
reverence  for  the  monarch  hardly  secondary  to  that  he  felt 
for  the  gods,  the  Tihuancan  was  inexpressibly  shocked  to 
see  him  subject  to  such  a  danger.  An  impulse  aside  from 
native  chivalry  urged  him  to  confront  the  ocelot ;  but  under 
the  circumstances,  —  and  he  recounted  them  rapidly,  —  he 
feared  the  king  more  than  the  brute.  Brief  time  was  there 
for  consideration  \  each  moment  the  peril  increased.  He 
thought  of  the  'tzin,  then  of  Nenetzin. 

"  Now  or  never  !  "  he  said.    "  If  the  gods  do  but  help  me, 
I  will  prove  myself !  " 
~~~  And  he  unlooped  the  mantle,  and  wound  it  about  his  left 


THE  SECOND  COMBAT.  175 

arm ;  the  knife,  poor  as  it  was,  he  took  from  his  maxtlatl  / 
then  he  was  ready.  Ah,  if  he  only  had  a  javelin ! 

To  place  himself  between  the  king  and  his  enemy  was 
what  he  next  set  about.  Experience  had  taught  him  how 
much  such  animals  are  governed  by  curiosity,  and  upon  that 
he  proceeded  to  act.  On  his  hands  and  knees  he  crept  out 
into  the  walk.  The  moment  he  became  exposed,  the  ocelot 
stopped,  raised  its  round  head,  and  watched  him  with  a 
gaze  as  intent  as  his  own.  The  advance  was  slow  and 
stealthy ;  when  the  point  was  almost  gained,  the  king 
turned  about. 

"  Speak  not,  stir  not,  0  king ! "  he  cried,  without  stop 
ping.  "  I  will  save  you,  —  no  other  can." 

From  creeping  man  the  monarch  looked  to  crouching 
beast,  and  comprehended  the  situation. 

Forward  went  Hualpa,  now  the  chief  object  of  attraction 
to  the  monster.  At  last  he  was  directly  in  front  of  it. 

"  Call  the  guard  and  fly  !     It  is  coming  now ! " 

And  through  the  garden  rang  the  call.  Verily,  the  hun 
ter  had  become  the  king ! 

A  moment  after  the  ocelot  lowered  its  head,  and  leaped. 
The  Tihuancan  had  barely  time  to  put  himself  in  posture 
to  receive  the  attack,  his  left  arm  serving  as  shield ;  upon 
his  knee,  he  struck  with  the  knife.  The  blood  flew,  and 
there  was  a  howl  so  loud  that  the  shouts  of  the  monarch 
were  drowned.  The  mantle  was  rent  to  ribbons;  and 
through  the  feathers,  cloth,  and  flesh,  the  long  fangs 
craunched  to  the  bone,  —  but  not  without  return.  This 
time  the  knife,  better  directed,  was  driven  to  the  heart, 
where  it  snapped  short  off,  and  remained.  The  clenched 
jaws  relaxed.  Bushing  suddenly  in,  Hualpa  contrived  to 
push  the  fainting  brute  into  the  tank.  He  saw  it  sink,  saw 
the  pool  subside  to  its  calm,  then  turned  to  Montezuma, 
who,  though  calling  lustily  for  the  guard,  had  stayed  to 


176  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


the  end.  Kneeling  upon  the  stained  shells,  he  laid  the 
broken  knife  at  the  monarch's  feet,  and  waited  for  him 
to  speak. 

"  Arise  !  "  the  king  said,  kindly. 

The  hunter  stood  up,  splashed  with  hlood,  the  fragments 
of  his  tilmatli  clinging  in  shreds  to  his  arm,  his  tunic 
torn,  the  hair  fallen  over  his  face,  —  a  most  uncourtierlike 
figure. 

"  You  are  hurt,"  said  the  king,  directly.  "  I  was  once 
thought  skilful  with  medicines.  Let  me  see." 

He  found  the  wounds,  and  untying  his  own  sash,  rich  with 
embroidery,  wrapped  it  in  many  folds  around  the  bleeding 
arm. 

Meantime  there  was  commotion  in  many  quarters. 

"  Evil  take  the  careless  watchers ! "  he  said,  sternly,  no 
ticing  the  rising  clamor.  "  Had  I  trusted  them,  —  but  are 
you  not  of  the  guard  ? " 

"  I  am  the  great  king's  slave,  —  his  poorest  slave,  but  not 
of  his  guard." 

Montezuma  regarded  him  attentively. 

"  It  cannot  be ;  an  assassin  would  not  have  interfered 
with  the  ocelot.  Take  up  the  knife,  and  follow  me." 

Hualpa  obeyed.  On  the  way  they  met  a  number  of  the 
guard  running  in  great  perplexity ;  but  without  a  word  to 
them,  the  monarch  walked  on,  and  into  the  palace.  In  a 
room  where  there  were  tables  and  seats,  books  and  writing 
materials,  maps  on  the  walls  and  piles  of  them  on  the  floor, 
he  stopped,  and  seated  himself. 

"  You  know  what  truth  is,  and  how  the  gods  punish  false 
hood,"  he  began ;  then,  abruptly,  "  How  came  you  in  the 
garden  1 " 

Hualpa  fell  on  his  knees,  laid  his  palm  on  the  floor, 
and  answered  without  looking  up,  for  such  he  knew  to  be 
a  courtly  custom. 


THE  SECOND  COMBAT.  177 


"  Who  may  deceive  the  wise  king  Montezuma  ]  I  will 
answer  as  to  the  gods  :  the  gardens  are  famous  in  song  and 
story,  and  I  was  tempted  to  see  them,  and  climbed  the  wall. 
When  you  came  to  the  fountain,  I  was  close  by ;  and  while 
waiting  a  chance  to  escape,  I  saw  the  ocelot  creeping  upon 
you ;  and  —  and  —  the  great  king  is  too  generous  to  deny 
his  slave  the  pardon  he  risked  his  life  for." 

"Who  are  you?" 

"  I  am  from  the  province  of  Tihuanco.  My  name  is 
Ilualpa." 

"  Hualpa,  Hualpa,"  repeated  the  king,  slowly.  "  You 
serve  Guatamozin." 

"  He  is  my  friend  and  master,  O  king." 

Montezuma  started.  "  Holy  gods,  what  madness  !  My 
people  have  sought  you  far  and  wide  to  feed  you  to  the 
tiger  in  the  tank." 

Hualpa  faltered  not. 

"  0  king,  I  know  I  am  charged  with  the  murder  of 
Iztlil',  the  Tezcucan.  Will  it  please  you  to  hear  my 
story  1 " 

And  taking  the  assent,  he  gave  the  particulars  of  the  com 
bat,  not  omitting  the  cause.  "  I  did  not  murder  him,"  he 
concluded.  "If  he  is  dead,  I  slew  him  in  fair  fight, 
shield  to  shield,  as  a  warrior  may,  with  honor,  slay  a  foe- 
man." 

"  And  you  carried  him  to  Tecuba  ? " 

"  Before  the  judges,  if  you  choose,  I  will  make  the  ac 
count  good." 

"  Be  it  so  !  "  the  monarch  said,  emphatically.  "  Two  days 
hence,  in  the  court,  I  will  accuse  you.  Have  there  your  wit 
nesses  :  it  is  a  matter  of  life  and  death.  Now,  what  of 
your  master,  the  'tzin  1 " 

The  question  was  dangerous,  and  Hualpa  trembled,  but 
resolved  to  be  bold. 

8*  i 


178  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"If  it  be  not  too  presumptuous,  most  mighty  king,  —  if 
a  slave  may  seem  to  judge  his  master's  judgment  by  the  offer 
of  a  word  —  " 

"  Speak  !      I  give  you  liberty." 

"  I  wish  to  say,"  continued  Hualpa,  "  that  in  the  court 
there  are  many  noble  courtiers  who  would  die  for  you,  0 
king ;  but,  of  them  all,  there  is  not  one  who  so  loves  you,  or 
whose  love  could  be  made  so  profitable,  being  backed  by 
skill,  courage,  and  wisdom,  as  the  generous  prince  whom  you 
call  my  master.  In  his  banishment  he  has  chosen  to  serve 
you ;  for  the  night  the  strangers  landed  in  Cempoalla,  he  left 
his  palace  in  Iztapalapan,  and  entered  their  camp  in  the 
train  of  the  governor  of  Cotastlan.  Yesterday  a  courier, 
whom  you  rewarded  richly  for  his  speed  in  coming,  brought 
you  portraits  of  the  strangers,  and  pictures  of  their  arms  and 
camp ;  that  courier  was  Guatamozin,  and  his  was  the  hand 
that  wrought  the  artist's  work.  0,  much  as  your  faculties 
become  a  king,  you  have  been  deceived  :  he  is  not  a  trai 
tor." 

"  Who  told  you  such  a  fine  minstrel's  tale  ? " 

"  The  gods  judge  me,  0  king,  if,  without  your  leave,  I  had 
so  much  as  dared  kiss  the  dust  at  your  feet.  What  you 
have  graciously  permitted  me  to  tell  I  heard  from  the  'tzin 
himself." 

Montezuma  sat  a  long  time  silent,  then  asked,  "  Did 
your  master  speak  of  the  strangers,  or  of  the  things  he 
saw?" 

"  The  noble  'tzin  regards  me  kindly,  and  therefore  spoke 
with  freedom.  He  said,  mourning  much  that  he  could  not 
be  at  your  last  council  to  declare  his  opinion,  that  you  were 
mistaken." 

The  speaker's  face  was  cast  down,  so  that  he  could  not  see 
the  frown  with  which  the  plain  words  were  received,  and  he 
continued,  — 


THE  SECOND  COMBAT.  179 

"  '  They  are  not  teules,'  *  so  the  'tzin  said,  '  but  men,  as 
you  and  I  are  ;  they  eat,  sleep,  drink,  like  us  ;  nor  is  that 
all, —  they  die  like  us ;  for  in  the  night,'  he  said,  '  I  was  in 
their  camp,  and  saw  them,  by  torchlight,  bury  the  body  of 
one  that  day  dead.'  And  then  he  asked,  '  Is  that  a  practice 
among  the  gods  ? '  Your  slave,  0  king,  is  not  learned  as  a 
paba,  and  therefore  believed  him." 

Montezuma  stood  up. 

"  Not  teules  !    How  thinks  he  they  should  be  dealt  with  \ " 

"  He  says  that,  as  they  are  men,  they  are  also  invaders, 
with  whom  an  Aztec  cannot  treat.  Nothing  for  them  but 
war!" 

To  and  fro  the  monarch  walked.  After  which  he  returned 
to  Hualpa  and  said,  — 

"  Go  home  now.  To-morrow  I  will  send  you  a  tilmatli 
for  the  one  you  wear.  Look  to  your  wounds,  and  recollect 
the  trial.  As  you  love  life,  have  there  your  proof.  I  will  be 
your  accuser." 

"  As  the  great  king  is  merciful  to  his  children,  the  gods 
will  be  merciful  to  him.  I  will  give  myself  to  the  guards," 
said  the  hunter,  to  whom  anything  was  preferable  to  the 
closet  in  the  restaurant. 

"  No,  you  are  free." 

Hualpa  kissed  the  floor,  and  arose,  and  hurried  from  the 
palace  to  the  house  of  Xoli  on  the  tianguez.  The  effect  of 
his  appearance  upon  that  worthy,  and  the  effect  of  the  story 
afterwards,  may  be  imagined.  Attention  to  the  wounds,  a 
bath,  and  sound  slumber  put  the  adventurer  in  a  better  con 
dition  by  the  next  noon. 

And  from  that  night  he  thought  more  than  ever  of  glory 

and  Nenetzin. 

*Gods. 


180  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE    PORTRAIT. 

NEXT  day,  after  the  removal  of  the  noon  comfitures, 
and  when  the  princess  Tula  had  gone  to  the  hammock 
for  the  usual  siesta,  Nenetzin  rushed  into  her  apartment  un 
usually  excited. 

"  0,  I  have  something  so  strange  to  tell  you, —  something 
so  strange !  "  she  cried,  throwing  herself  upon  the  hammock. 

Her  face  was  bright  and  very  beautiful.  Tula  looked  at 
her  a  moment,  then  put  her  lips  lovingly  to  the  smooth  fore 
head. 

"  By  the  Sun  !  as  our  royal  father  sometimes  swears,  my 
sister  seems  in  earnest." 

"  Indeed  I  am  ;   and  you  will  go  with  me,  will  you  not  ? " 

"  Ah  !  you  want  to  take  me  to  the  garden  to  see  the  dead 
tiger,  or,  perhaps,  the  warrior  who  slew  it,  or  —  now  I  have 
it  —  you  have  seen  another  minstrel." 

Tula  expected  the  girl  to  laugh,  but  was  surprised  to  see 
her  eyes  fill  with  tears.  She  changed  her  manner  instantly, 
and  bade  the  slave  who  had  been  sitting  by  the  hammock 
fanning  her,  to  retire.  Then  she  said,  — 

"  You  jest  so  much,  Nenetzin,  that  I  do  not  know  when 
you  are  serious.  I  love  you  :  now  tell  me  what  has  hap 
pened." 

The  answer  was  given  in  a  low  voice. 

"  You  will  think  me  foolish,  and  so  I  am,  but  I  cannot 
help  it.  Do  you  recollect  the  dream  I  told  you  the  night  on 
the  chinampa  ?  " 

"  The  night  Yeteve  came  to  us  ?     I  recollect." 

"  You  know  I  saw  a  man  come  and  sit  down  in  our  father's 


THE  PORTRAIT.  181 


palace,  —  a  stranger  with  blue  eyes  and  fair  face,  and  hair  and 
beard  like  the  silk  of  the  ripening  maize.  I  told  you  I  loved 
him,  and  would  have  none  but  him ;  and  you  laughed  at  me, 
and  said  he  was  the  god  Quetzal'.  0  Tula,  the  dream  has 
come  back  to  me  many  times  since ;  so  often  that  it  seems, 
when  I  am  awake,  to  have  been  a  reality.  I  am  childish, 
you  think,  and  very  weak ;  you  may  even  pity  me  j  but  I 
have  grown  to  look  upon  the  blue-eyed  as  something  lovable 
and-  great,  and  thought  of  him  is  a  part  of  my  mind ;  so 
much  so  that  it  is  useless  for  me  to  say  he  is  not,  or  that  I 
am  loving  a  shadow.  And  now,  0  dear  Tula,  now  comes  the 
strange  part  of  my  story.  Yesterday,  you  know,  a  courier 
from  Cempoalla  brought  our  father  some  pictures  of  the 
strangers  lately  landed  from  the  sea.  This  morning  I  heard 
there  were  portraits  among  them,  and  could  not  resist  a 
curiosity  to  see  them  ;  so  I  went,  and  almost  the  first  one  I 
came  to,  —  do  not  laugh,  —  almost  the  first  one  I  came  to 
was  the  picture  of  him  who  comes  to  me  so  often  in  my 
dreams.  I  looked  and  trembled.  There  indeed  he  was ;  there 
were  the  blue  eyes,  the  yellow  hair,  the  white  face,  even  the 
dress,  shining  as  silver,  and  the  plumed  crest.  I  did  not  stay 
to  look  at  anything  else,  but  hurried  here,  scarcely  knowing 
whether  to  be  glad  or  afraid.  I  thought  if  you  went  with 
me  I  would  not  be  afraid.  Go  you  must ;  we  will  look  at  the 
portrait  together."  And  she  hid  her  face,  sobbing  like  a  child. . 

"It  is  too  wonderful  for  belief.     I  will  go,"  said  Tula. 

She  arose,  and  the  slave  brought  and  threw  over  her 
shoulders  the  long  white  scarf  so  invariably  a  part  of  an 
Artec  woman's  costume.  Then  the  sisters  took  their  way  to 
the  chamber  where  the  pictures  were  kept,  —  the  same  into 
which  Hualpa  had  been  led  the  night  before.  The  king  was 
elsewhere  giving  audience,  and  his  clerks  and  attendants 
were  with  him.  So  the  two  were  allowed  to  indulge  their 
curiosity  undisturbed. 


182  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

Kenetzin  went  to  a  pile  of  manuscripts  lying  on  the  floor. 
The  elder  sister  was  startled  by  the  first  picture  exposed ;  for 
she  recognized  the  handiwork,  long  since  familiar  to  her,  of 
the  'tzin.  Nor  was  she  less  surprised  by  the  subject,  which 
was  a  horse,  apparently  a  nobler  instrument  for  a  god's  re 
venge  than  man  himself. 

Next  she  saw  pictured  a  horse,  its  rider  mounted,  and  in 
Christian  armor,  and  bearing  shield,  lance,  and  sword.  Then 
came  a  cannon,  the  gunner  by  the  carriage,  his  match  lighted, 
while  a  volume  of  flame  and  smoke  was  bursting  from  the 
throat  of  the  piece.  A  portrait  followed ;  she  lifted  it  up, 
and  trembled  to  see  the  hero  of  Nenetzin's  dream ! 

"  Did  I  not  tell  you  so,  0  Tula  1 "  said  the  girl,  in  a 
whisper. 

"  The  face  is  pleasant  and  noble,"  the  other  answered, 
thoughtfully ;  "  but  I  am  afraid.  There  is  evil  in  the  smile, 
evil  in  the  blue  eyes." 

The  rest  of  the  manuscripts  they  left  untouched.  The  one 
absorbed  them  ;  but  with  what  different  feelings  !  Nenetzin 
was  a-flutter  with  pleasure,  restrained  by  awe.  Impressed 
by  the  singularity  of  the  vision,  as  thus  realized,  a  passionate 
wish  to  see  the  man  or  god,  whichever  he  was,  and  hear  his 
voice,  may  be  called  her  nearest  semblance  to  reflection. 
Like  a  lover  in  the  presence  of  the  beloved,  she  was  glad  and 
contented,  and  asked  nothing  of  the  future.  But  with  Tula, 
older  and  wiser,  it  was  different.  She  was  conscious  of  the 
novelty  of  the  incident ;  at  the  same  time  a  presentiment,  a 
gloomy  foreboding,  filled  her  soul.  In  slumber  we  sometimes 
see  spectres,  and  they  sit  by  us  and  smile ;  yet  we  shrink, 
and  cannot  keep  down  anticipations  of  ill.  So  Tula  was  af 
fected  by  what  she  beheld. 

She  laid  the  portrait  softly  down,  and  turned  to  Nenetzin, 
who  had  now  no  need  to  deprecate  her  laugh. 


THE  TRIAL.  183 


"  The  ways  of  the  gods  are  most  strange.  Something  tells 
me  this  is  their  work.  I  am  afraid  ;  let  us  go." 

And  they  retired,  and  the  rest  of  the  day,  swinging  in  the 
hammock,  they  talked  of  the  dream  and  the  portrait,  and 
wondered  what  would  come  of  them. 


CHAPTEE  IV. 

THE    TRIAL. 

HUALPA'S  adventure  in  the  garden  made  a  great  sti> 
in  the  palace  and  the  city.  Profound  was  the 
astonishment,  therefore,  when  it  became  known  that  the 
savior  of  the  king  and  the  murderer  of  the  Tezcucan  were 
one  and  the  same  person,  and  that,  in  the  latter  character,  he 
was  to  be  taken  into  court  and  tried  for  his  life,  Montezuma 
himself  acting  as  accuser.  Though  universally  discredited, 
the  story  had  the  effect  of  drawing  an  immense  attendance 
at  the  trial. 

"  Ho,  Chalcan  !     Fly  not  your  friends  in  that  way  !  " 

So  the  broker  was  saluted  by  some  men  nobly  dressed, 
whom  he  was  about  passing  on  the  great  street.  He  stopped, 
and  bowed  very  low. 

"  A  pleasant  day,  my  lords !  Your  invitation  honors  me  ; 
the  will  of  his  patrons  should  always  be  law  to  the  poor 
keeper  of  a  portico.  I  am  hurrying  to  the  trial." 

"  Then  stay  with  us.  We  also  have  a  curiosity  to  see  tha 
assassin." 

"  My  good  lord  speaks  harshly.  The  boy,  whom  I  love  as 
a  son,  cannot  be  what  you  call  him." 

The  noble  laughed.  "  Take  it  not  ill,  Chalcan.  So  much 
do  I  honor  the  hand  that  slew  the  base  Tezcucan  that  I  care 


184  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


not  whether  it  was  in  fair  fight  or  by  vantage  taken.  But 
what  do  you  know  about  the  king  being  accuser  to-day  ? " 

"  So  he  told  the  boy." 

"  Incredible !  " 

"  I  will  not  quarrel  with  my  lord  on  that  account,"  re 
joined  the  broker.  "  A  more  generous  master  than  Montezu- 
ma  never  lived.  Are  not  the  people  always  complaining  of 
his  liberality  1  At  the  last  banquet,  for  inventing  a  simple 
drink,  did  he  not  give  me,  his  humblest  slave,  a  goblet  fit 
for  another  king  1 " 

"And  what  is  your  drink,  though  ever  so  excellent,  to  the 
saving  his  life  1  Is  not  that  your  argument,  Chalcan  ? " 

"  Yes,  my  lord,  and  at  such  peril !  Ah,  you  should  have 
seen  the  ocelot  when  taken  from  the  tank  !  The  keepers 
told  me  it  was  the  largest  and  fiercest  in  the  museum." 

Then  Xoli  proceeded  to  edify  his  noble  audience  with  all 
the  gossip  pertaining  to  the  adventure ;  and  as  his  object  was 
to  take  into  court  some  friends  for  the  luckless  hunter  more 
influential  than  himself,  he  succeeded  admirably.  Every  few 
steps  there  were  such  expressions  as,  "  It  would  be  pitiful 
if  so  brave  a  fellow  should  die !  "  "  If  I  were  king,  by  the 
Sun,  I  would  enrich  him  from  the  possessions  of  the  Tezcu- 
can  !  "  And  as  they  showed  no  disposition  to  interrupt  him, 
his  pleading  lasted  to  the  house  of  justice,  where  the  com 
pany  arrived  not  any  too  soon  to  procure  comfortable  seats. 

The  court-house  stood  at  the  left  of  the  street,  a  little  re 
tired  from  the  regular  line  of  buildings.  The  visitors  had 
first  to  pass  through  a  spacious  hall,  which  brought  them  to 
a  court-yard  cemented  under  foot,  and  on  all  sides  bounded 
with  beautiful  houses.  Then,  on  the  right,  they  saw  the  en 
trance  to  the  chamber  of  justice,  grotesquely  called  the  Tri 
bunal  of  God,*  in  which,  for  ages,  had  been  administered  a 
code,  vindictive,  but  not  without  equity.  The  great  door 

*  Prescott,  Conq.  of  Mexico,  Vol.  I.  p.  33. 


THE  TRIAL.  185 


was  richly  carved ;  the  windows  high  and  broad,  and  lined 
with  fluted  marble ;  while  a  projecting  cornice,  tastefully  fin 
ished,  gave  airiness  and  beauty  to  the  venerable  structure. 

The  party  entered  the  room  with  profoundest  reverence. 
On  a  dais  sat  the  judge ;  in  front  of  him  was  the  stool  bear 
ing  the  skull  with  the  emerald  crown  and  gay  plumes.  Turn 
ing  from  the  plain  tapestry  along  the  walls,  the  spectators 
failed  not  to  admire  the  jewels  that  blazed  with  almost  starry 
splendor  from  the  centre  of  the  canopy  above  him. 

The  broker,  not  being  of  the  class  of  privileged  nobles, 
found  a  seat  with  difficulty.  To  his  comfort,  however,  he 
was  placed  by  the  side  of  an  acquaintance. 

"  You  should  have  come  earlier,  Chalcan  ;  the  judge  has 
twice  used  the  arrow  this  morning." 

«  Indeed ! " 

"  Once  against  a  boy  too  much  given  to  pulque, —  a  drunk 
ard.  With  the  other  doubtless  you  were  acquainted." 

"  Was  he  noble  1 " 

"  He  had  good  blood,  at  least,  being  the  son  of  a  Tetzmel- 
locan,  who  died  immensely  rich.  The  witnesses  said  the 
fellow  squandered  his  father's  estate  almost  as  soon  as  it  came 
to  him." 

"  Better  had  he  been  born  a  thief,"  *  said  Xoli,  coolly. 

Suddenly,  four  heralds,  with  silver  maces,  entered  the 
court-room,  announcing  the  monarch.  The  people  fell  upon 
their  knees,  and  so  remained  until  he  was  seated  before  the 
dais.  Then  they  arose,  and,  with  staring  eyes,  devoured  the 
beauty  of  his  costume,  and  the  mysterious  sanction  of  man 
ner,  office,  power,  and  custom,  which  the  lovers  of  royalty 
throughout  the  world  have  delighted  to  sum  up  in  the  one 
word, —  majesty.  The  hum  of  voices  filled  the  chamber. 
Then,  by  another  door,  in  charge  of  officers,  Hualpa  ap- 

*  A  thief  might  be  punished  with  slayery  :  death  was  the  penalty  for 
jrodigalisra  and  drunkenness. 


186  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

peared,  and  was  led  to  the  dais  opposite  the  king.  Before 
an  Aztecan  court  there  was  no  ceremony.  The  highest  and 
the  lowliest  stood  upon  a  level :  such,  at  least,  was  the  beau 
tiful  theory. 

So  intense  was  the  curiosity  to  see  the  prisoner  that  the 
spectators  pressed  upon  each  other,  for  the  moment  mindless 
of  the  monarch's  presence. 

"  A  handsome  fellow  !  "  said  an  old  cacique,  approvingly. 

"  Only  a  boy,  my  lord  !  "  suggested  the  critic. 

"  And  not  fierce-looking,  either." 

"Yes  —  " 

"  No  —  " 

"  He  might  kill,  but  in  fair  fight :  so  I  judge  him." 

And  that  became  the  opinion  amongst  the  nobles. 

"  Your  friend  seems  confident,  Xoli.  I  like  him,"  re' 
marked  the  Chalcan's  acquaintance. 

"  Hush  !     The  king  accuses." 

"  The  king,  said  you  !  "  And  the  good  man,  representing 
the  commonalty,  was  frozen  into  silence. 

In  another  quarter,  one  asked,  "  Does  he  not  wear  the 
'tzin's  livery  1 " 

The  person  interrogated  covered  his  mouth  with  both 
hands,  then  drew  to  the  other's  ear,  and  whispered,  — 

"  Yes,  he 's  a  'tzin's  man,  and  that,  they  say,  is  his 
crime." 

The  sharp  voice  of  the  executive  officer  of  the  court  rang 
out,  and  there  was  stillness  almost  breathless.  Up  rose  the 
clerk,  a  learned  man,  keeper  of  the  records,  and  read  the  in 
dictment  ;  that  done,  he  laid  the  portrait  of  the  accused  on 
the  table  before  the  judge  ;  then  the  trial  began. 

The  judge,  playing  carelessly  with  the  fatal  arrow,  said, — 
"  Hualpa,  son  of  Tepaja,  the  Tihuancan,  stand  up,  and  an 
swer." 

And  the  prisoner  arose,  and  saluted  court  and  king,  and 


THE  TEIAL.  187 


answered,  "  It  is  true,  that  on  the  night  of  the  banquet,  I 
fought  the  Tezcucan  ;  by  favor  of  the  gods,  I  defeated,  with 
out  slaying  him.  He  is  here  in  person  to  acquit  me." 

"  Bring  the  witness,"  said  the  judge. 

Some  of  the  officers  retired ;  during  their  absence  a  sol 
emn  hush  prevailed  ;  directly  they  returned,  carrying  a  palan 
quin.  Eight  before  the  dais  they  set  it  down,  and  drew 
aside  the  curtains.  Then  slowly  the  Tezcucan  came  forth, — • 
weak,  but  unconquered.  At  the  judge  he  looked,  and  at  the 
king,  and  all  the  fire  of  his  haughty  soul  burned  in  the  glance. 
Borrowing  strength  from  his  pride,  he  raised  his  head  high, 
and  said,  scornfully,  — 

"  The  power  of  my  father's  friend  is  exceeding  great ;  he 
speaks,  and  all  things  obey  him.  I  am  sick  and  suffering ; 
but  he  bade  me  come,  and  I  am  here.  What  new  shame 
awaits  me  1 " 

Montezuma  answered,  never  more  a  king  than  then : 
"  'Hualpilli  was  wise  ;  his  son  is  foolish ;  for  the  memory  of 
the  one  I  spare  the  other.  The  keeper  of  this  sacred  place 
will  answer  why  you  are  brought  here.  Look  that  he  par 
dons  you  lightly  as  I  have." 

Then  the  judge  said,  "  Prince  of  Tezcuco,  you  are  here  by 
my  order.  There  stands  one  charged  with  your  murder. 
Would  you  have  had  him  suffer  the  penalty  ?  You  have 
dared  be  insolent.  See,  0  prince,  that  before  to-morrow  you 
pay  the  treasurer  ten  thousand  quills  of  gold.  See  to  it." 
And,  returning  the  portrait  to  the  clerk,  he  added,  "  Let  the 
accused  go  acquit." 

"  Ah  !  said  I  not  so,  said  I  not  so  ? "  muttered  the  Chalcan, 
rubbing  his  hands  joyfully,  and  disturbing  the  attentive  peo 
ple  about  him. 

"  Hist,  hist !  "  they  said,  impatiently.  "  What  more  T 
hearken  !  " 

Hualpa  was  kneeling  before  the  monarch. 


188  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Most  mighty  king,"  he  said,  "  if  what  I  have  done  be 
worthy  reward,  grant  me  the  discharge  of  this  fine." 

"  How ! "  said  Montezuma,  amazed.  "  The  Tezcucan  is 
your  enemy ! " 

"  Yet  he  fought  me  fairly,  and  is  a  warrior." 

The  eyes  of  the  king  sought  those  of  Iztlil'. 

"  What  says  the  son  of  'Hualpilli  ?  " 

The  latter  raised  his  head  with  a  flash  of  the  old  pride. 
'  He  is  a  slave  of  Guatamozin's :  I  scorn  the  intercession. 
I  am  yet  a  prince  of  Tezcuco." 

Then  the  monarch  went  forward,  and  sat  by  the  judge. 
Not  a  sound  was  heard,  till  he  spoke. 

"  Arise,  and  come  near,"  he  said  to  Hualpa.  "  I  will  do 
what  becomes  me." 

His  voice  was  low  and  tremulous  with  feeling,  and  over 
his  face  came  the  peculiar  suffusion  of  sadness  afterwards  its 
habitual  expression.  The  hunter  kissed  the  floor  at  his  feet, 
and  remained  kneeling.  Then  he  continued,  — 

"  Son  of  the  Tihuancan,  I  acknowledge  I  owe  my  life  to 
you,  and  I  call  all  to  hear  the  acknowledgment.  If  the  peo 
ple  have  thought  this  prosecution  part  of  my  gratitude,  —  if 
they  have  marvelled  at  my  appearing  as  your  accuser,  much 
have  they  wronged  me.  I  thought  of  reward  higher  than 
they  could  have  asked  for  you ;  but  I  also  thought  to  try 
you.  A  slave  is  not  fit  to  be  a  chief,  nor  is  every  chief  fit 
to  be  a  king.  I  thought  to  try  you  :  I  am  satisfied.  When 
your  fame  goes  abroad,  as  it  will ;  when  the  minstrels  sing 
your  valor ;  when  Tenochtitlan  talks  of  the  merchant's  son, 
who,  in  the  garden,  slew  the  tiger,  and  saved  the  life  of 
Montezuma,  —  let  them  also  tell  how  Montezuma  rewarded 
him ;  let  them  say  I  made  him  noble." 

Thereupon  he  arose,  and  transferred  the  panache  from 
his  head  to  Hualpa's.  Those  close  by  looked  at  the  gift, 
and  saw,  for  the  first  time,  that  it  was  not  the  crown, 


THE  TRIAL.  189 


but  the  crest  of  a  chief  or  cacique.  Then  they  knew 
that  the  trial  was  merely  to  make  more  public  the  honors 
designed. 

"  Let  them  say  further,"  he  continued,  "  that  with  my  own 
hand  I  made  him  a  warrior  of  the  highest  grade."  And,  bend 
ing  over  the  adventurer,  he  clasped  around  his  neck  the  col 
lar  of  the  supreme  military  order  of  the  realm.*  "  Nor  i» 
that  all.  Bank,  without  competence,  is  a  vexation  and 
shame.  At  the  foot  of  Chapultepec,  on  the  shore  of  the 
lake,  lie  an  estate  and  a  palace  of  which  I  have  been 
proud.  Let  it  be  said,  finally,  that  I  gave  them  to  enrich 
him  and  his  forever."  He  paused,  and  turned  coldly  to 
the  Tezcucan.  "But  as  to  the  son  of  'Hualpilli,  his  fine 
must  stand  ;  such  pride  must  be  punished.  He  shall  pay 
the  gold,  or  forfeit  his  province."  Then,  outstretching 
toward  the  audience  both  his  arms,  he  said,  so  as  to  be 
heard  throughout  the  chamber,  "  Now,  0  my  children, 
justice  has  been  done  !  " 

The  words  were  simple ;  but  the  manner,  royal  as  a  king's 
and  patriarchal  as  a  pontiff's,  brought  every  listener  to  his 
knees. 

"  Stand  up,  my  lord  Hualpa !  Take  your  place  in  my 
train.  I  will  return  to  the  palace." 

With  that  he  passed  out. 

And  soon  there  was  but  one  person  remaining,  —  IztliT,  the 
Tezcucan.  Brought  from  Tlacopan  by  officers  of  the  court, 
too  weak  to  walk,  without  slaves  to  help  him,  at  sight  of  the 
deserted  hall  his  countenance  became  haggard,  the  light  in 
his  hollow  eyes  came  and  went,  and  his  broad  breast  heaved 
passionately ;  in  that  long,  slow  look  he  measured  the  depth 
of  his  fall. 

*  The  authorities  touching  the  military  orders  of  the  Aztecs  are  full  and 
complete.  Prescott,  Conq.  of  Mexico,  Vol.  I.  p.  45 ;  Acosta,  Book  VI. 
ch.  26 ;  Mendoza's  Collec.  Antiq.  of  Mexico,  Vol.  I,  pi.  65. 


190  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  0  Tezcuco,  Tezcuco,  city  of  my  fathers  !  "  he  cried  aloud. 
"  This  is  the  last  wrong  to  the  last  of  thy  race  of  kings." 

A  little  after  he  was  upon  a  bench  exhausted,  his  head 
covered  by  his  mantle.  Then  a  hand  was  laid  upon  his 
shoulder ;  he  looked  up  and  saw  Hualpa. 

"  How  now !  Has  the  base-born  come  to  enjoy  his  tri- 
Timph  ?  I  cannot  strike.  Laugh  and  revile  me ;  but  re 
member,  mine  is  the  blood  of  kings.  The  gods  loved  my 
father,  and  will  not  abandon  his  son.  In  their  names  I  curse 
you  ! " 

"  Tezcucan,  you  are  proud  to  foolishness,"  said  the  hunter, 
calmly.  "  I  came  to  serve  you.  Within  an  hour  I  have  be 
come  master  of  slaves  —  " 

"  And  were  yourself  a  slave  !  " 

"  Well,  I  won  my  freedom ;  I  slew  a  beast  and  conquered 
a  —  But,  prince,  my  slaves  are  at  the  door.  Command  them 
to  Tlacopan." 

"  Play  courtier  to  those  who  have  influence ;  lean  your 
ambition  upon  one  who  can  advance  it.  I  am  undone." 

"  I  am  not  a  courtier.  The  service  I  offer  you  springs 
from  a  warrior's  motive.  I  propose  it,  not  to  a  man  of 
power,  but  to  a  prince  whose  courage  is  superior  to  his 
fortune." 

For  a  moment  the  Tezcucan  studied  the  glowing  face; 
then  his  brows  relaxed,  and,  sighing  like  a  woman,  and  like 
a  woman  overcome  by  the  unexpected  gentleness,  he  bowed 
his  head,  and  covered  his  face  with  his  hands,  that  he  might 
not  be  accused  of  tears. 

"  Let  me  call  the  slaves,  O  prince,"  said  Hualpa. 

Thrice  he  clapped  his  hands,  whereat  four  tattooed  tamanes 
stalked  into  the  chamber  with  a  palanquin.  Iztlil'  took  seat 
in  the  carriage,  and  was  being  borne  away,  when  he  called 
the  hunter. 

"  A  word,"  he  said,  in  a  voice  from  which  all  passion  waa 


THE  TRIAL. 


gone.  "  Though  my  enemy,  you  have  been  generous,  and  re 
membered  my  misfortunes  when  all  others  forsook  me.  Take 
with  you  this  mark.  I  do  not  ask  you  to  wear  it,  for  the 
time  is  nearly  come  when  the  son  of  'Hualpilli  will  be  pro 
scribed  throughout  the  valley ;  but  keep  it  in  witness  that  I, 
the  son  of  a  king,  acknowledged  your  right  and  fitness  to  be 
a  noble.  Farewell." 

Hualpa  could  not  refuse  a  present  so  delicately  given ;  ex 
tending  his  hand,  he  received  a  bracelet  of  gold,  set  with  an 
Aztec  diamond  of  immense  value.  He  clasped  it  upon  his 
arm,  and  followed  the  carriage  into  the  street. 


BOOK   FOUR. 

CHAPTEE  I. 

THE   KING   GIVES   A   TRUST   TO    HUALPA. 

AND  now  was  come  the  time  of  all  the  year  most  pleas 
ant,  —  the  time  when  the  maguey  was  greenest,  when 
the  cacti  hurst  into  flowers,  and  in  every  field  women  and 
children,  with  the  -strong  men,  went  to  pluck  the  ripened 
maize.  Of  the  summer,  only  the  wealth  and  heauty  remained. 
The  Goddess  of  Abundance  divided  the  worship  which,  at 
other  seasons,  was  mostly  given  to  Huitzil'  and  Tezca'  j  *  in 
her  temples  the  days  were  all  of  prayer,  hymning,  and 
priestly  ceremony.  No  other  towers  sent  up  such  columns  of 
the  blue  smoke  so  grateful  to  the  dwellers  in  the  Sun ;  in  no 
other  places  were  there  such  incessant  burning  of  censers, 
presentation  of  gifts,  and  sacrifice  of  victims.  Throughout 
the  valley  the  people  carolled  those  songs  the  sweetest  and 
most  millennial  of  men,  —  the  songs  of  harvest,  peace,  and 
plenty. 

I  have  before  said  that  Tezcuco,  the  lake,  was  the  especial 
pride  of  the  Aztecs.  When  the  sky  was  clear,  and  the  air 
tranquil,  it  was  very  beautiful ;  but  when  the  king,  with  his 
court,  all  in  state,  set  out  for  the  hunting-grounds  on  the 
northern  shore,  its  beauty  rose  to  splendor.  By  his  invita 
tion  great  numbers  of  citizens,  in  style  suited  to  the  honor, 

*  Tezcatlipoca,  a  god  next  in  rank  to  the  Supreme  Being.  Supposed 
creator  of  the  world. 


THE  KING  GIVES  A  TRUST  TO  HUALPA.  193 

joined  their  canoes  to  the  flotilla  composing  the  retinue. 
And  let  it  not  be  forgotten  that  the  Aztec  loved  his  canoe  as 
in  Christendom  the  good  knight  loves  his  steed,  and  deco 
rated  it  with  all  he  knew  of  art;  that  its  prow,  rising  high 
above  tho  water,  and  touched  by  the  master  sculptors,  was 
dressed  in  garlands  and  fantastic  symbols  ;  that  its  light  and 
shapely  canopy,  elegantly  trimmed  within,  was  shaded  bjO 
curtains,  and  surmounted  by  trailing  streamers  ;  and  that  the 
slaves,  four,  sixs  and  sometimes  twelve  in  number,  dipped 
and  drew  their  flashing  paddles  in  faultless  time,  and  shono 
afar  brilliant  in  livery.  So,  when  the  multitude  of  vessels 
cleared  the  city  walls,  and  with  music  and  songs  dashed  into 
the  open  lake,  the  very  water  seemed  to  dance  and  quiver 
with  a  sensuous  pleasure. 

In  such  style  did  Montezuma  one  pleasant  morning  leave 
his  capital.  Calm  was  the  lake,  and  so  cleav  that  the  reflec 
tion  of  the  sky  above  seemed  a  bed  of  blue  below.  There 
were  music,  and  shouts,  and  merry  songs,  and  from  the  city 
the  cheers  and  plaudits  of  the  thousands  who,  from  the 
walls  and  housetops,  witnessed  the  pageant.  And  his  canoe 
was  the  soul  of  the  pomp,  and  he  had  with  him  his  favorite 
minstrel  and  jester,  and  Maxtla  ;  yet  there  was  something 
on  his  mind  that  made  him  indifferent  to  the  scene  and  pro 
spective  sport.  Some  distance  out,  by  his  direction,  the 
slaves  so  manoeuvred  that  all  the  flotilla  passed  him  ;  then 
he  said  to  Maxtla,  "  The  will  has  left  me.  I  will  not  hunt 
lo-d»y  :  yet  the  pastime  must  go  on  ;  a  recall  now  were 
unkingly.  Look  out  for  a  way  to  follow  the  train,  while  I 


The  chief  arose,  and  swept  the  lake  with  a  bright  glance. 
"  Yonder  is  a  chinampa  ;  I  can  take  its  master's  canoe." 

"  Do  so.  Give  this  ring  to  the  lord  Cuitlahua,  and  tell 
him  to  conduct  the  hunt." 

And  soon  Maxtla  was  hurrying  to  the  north  with  the  sig- 
9  tt 


194  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

net,  while  the  monarch  was  speeding  more  swiftly  to  the 

BOUth. 

"  For  Iztapalapan,"  said  the  latter  to  his  slaves.  "  Take 
me  there  before  the  lords  reach  the  hunting-grounds,  and  you 
shall  have  a  feast  to-night." 

They  bent  to  the  paddles,  and  rested  not  until  he  saw  the 
white  houses  of  the  city,  built  far  into  the  lake  in  imitation 
of  the  capital 

"  Not  to  the  town,  but  the  palace  of  Guatarnozin,"  he  then 
said.  "  Speed  !  the  sun  is  rising  high." 

Arrived  at  the  landing,  Montezuma  set  forward  alone  to  the 
palace.  The  path  led  into  a  grove  of  cedar  and  wild  orange  - 
trees,  interspersed  with  ceibas,  the  true  kings  of  the  forests 
of  New  Mexico.  The  air  was  sweet  with  perfume ;  birds 
sang  to  each  other  from  the  coverts ;  the  adjacent  cascades 
played  their  steady,  muffled  music  ;  and  altogether  morning 
on  the  lake  was  less  beautiful  than  morning  in  the  tzin's 
garden.  In  the  multitude  of  walks  he  became  bewildered; 
but,  as  he  was  pleased  by  all  he  beheld,  he  walked  on  with 
out  consulting  the  sun.  At  length,  guided  by  the  sound  of 
voices,  he  came  to  the  arena  for  martial  games  ;  and  there  he 
found  Hualpa  and  Io'  practising  with  the  bow. 

He  had  been  wont  to  regard  Io'  as  a  child,  unripe  for 
any  but  childish  amusements,  and  hardly  to  be  trusted  alone. 
Absorbed  in  his  business  of  governing,  he  had  not  observed 
how  increase  of  years  brought  the  boy  strength,  stature,  and 
corresponding  tastes.  Now  he  was  admonished  of  his  neglect : 
the  stripling  should  have  been  familiarized  with  bow,  sling, 
and  maquahuitl ;  men  ought  to  have  been  given  him  for 
comrades ;  the  warrior's  school,  even  the  actual  field,  had 
been  better  for  him  than  the  nursery.  An  idea  of  ambition 
also  occurred  to  the  monarch.  When  he  himself  was  gathered 
to  his  fathers,  who  was  to  succeed  him  on  the  throne? 
Cuitlahua,  Oacama,  the  lord  of  Tlacopan  ?  Why  not  Io'  i 


THE  KING  GIVES  A  TRUST  TO  HUALPA.  195 

Meanwhile  the  two  diligently  pursued  their  sport.  At 
the  moment  the  king  came  upon  them,  Hualpa  was  giving 
Borne  directions  as  to  the  mode  of  holding  the  brave  weapon. 
The  boy  listened  eagerly,  —  a  sign  that  pleased  the  observer, 
for  nothing  is  so  easy  as  to  natter  the  hope  of  a  dreamy 
heart.  Observing  them  further,  he  saw  Io'  take  the  stand, 
draw  the  arrow  quite  to  the  head,  and  strike  the  target.  At 
the  second  trial,  he  pierced  the  centre.  Hualpa  embraced 
the  scholar  joyously ;  and  thereupon  the  king  warmed  to 
ward  the  warrior,  and  tears  blinded  his  eyes.  Advancing 
into  the  arena,  the  clanging  of  his  golden  sandals  announced 
his  presence. 

And  they  knelt  and  kissed  the  earth. 
"  Stand  up  !  "  he  said,  with  the  smile  which  gave  his  coun 
tenance  a  womanly  beauty.  And  to  Hualpa  he  added,  "  I 
thought  your  palace  by  Chapultepec  would  be  more  attrac 
tive  than  the  practice  of  arms;  more  credit  should  have 
been  given  the  habits  of  a  hunter.  I  was  right  to  make 
you  noble.  But  what  can  you  make  of  Io'  ? " 

"  If  you  will  give  the  time,  0  king,  I  can  make  him  of 
excellent  skill." 

"  And  what  says  the  son  of  Tecalco  1 " 
Io'  knelt  again,  saying,  "  I  have  a  pardon  to  ask  —  " 
"  A  pardon  !     For  wishing  to  be  a  warrior  ? " 
"  If  the  king  will  hear  me,  —  I  have  heard  you  say  that  in 
your  youth  you  divided  your  days  between  the  camp  and 
the  temples,  learning  at  the  same  time  the  duties  of  the 
priest  and  the  warrior.     That  I  may  be  able  some  day  to 
serve  you,  0  king,  I  have  stolen  away  from  Tenochtitlan  —  " 
Montezuma  laid  his  hand  tenderly  on  the  boy's  head,  and 
said,  "  No  more.     I  know  all  you  would  say,  and  will  ask 
the  great  Huitzil'  to  give  you  strength  and  courage.     Take 
my  permission  to  be  a  warrior.     Arise,  now,  and  give  me 
the  bow.     It  is  long  since  I  pulled  the  cord,  and  my  hand 


196  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


may  have  weakened,  and  my  eyes  become  dim ;  but  I  chal 
lenge  you  both !  I  have  a  shield  wrought  of  pearl  and  gold, 
unfit  for  the  field,  yet  beautiful  as  a  prize  of  skill.  "Who 
plants  an  arrow  nearest  yon  target's  heart,  his  the  shield 
shaU  be." 

The  challenge  was  accepted,  and  after  preparation,  the 
monarch  dropped  his  mantle,  and  took  the  stand.  He  drew 
the  shaft  to  his  ear  with  a  careless  show  of  skill ;  and  when 
it  quivered  in  the  target  about  a  palm's  breadth  below  the 
mark,  he  said,  laughing,  "  I  am  at  least  within  the  line  of 
the  good  bowman.  A  Tlascalan  would  not  have  escaped 
scarless." 

Io'  next  took  the  bow,  and  was  so  fortunate  as  to  hit  the 
lower  edge  of  the  heart  squarely  above  the  king's  bolt. 

"  Mine  is  the  shield,  mine  is  the  shield  !  "  he  cried,  exult 
antly.  "  0  that  a  minstrel  were  here !  I  would  have  a 
song,  —  my  first  song  ! " 

"  Very  proud  ! "  said  the  king,  good-humoredly.  "  Know 
yju,  boy,  the  warrior  counts  his  captives  only  when  the  bat 
tle  is  ended.  Here,  lord  Hualpa,  the  boaster  should  be 
beaten.  Prove  your  quality.  To  you  there  may  be  more 
in  this  trial  than  a  song  or  a  golden  shield." 

The  hunter  took  the  vacant  place  ;  his  arrow  whistled 
away,  and  the  report  came  back  from  the  target.  By  a  happy 
accident,  if  such  it  were,  the  copper  point  was  planted  ex 
actly  in  the  middle  of  the  space  between  the  other  two. 

More  joyous  than  before  arose  the  cry  of  Io',  "  I  have 
beaten  a  king  and  a  warrior  !  Mine  is  the  shield,  mine  is 
the  shield  ! " 

And  the  king,  listening,  said  to  himself,  "  I  remember  my 
own  youth,  and  its  earliest  victory,  and  how  I  passed  from 
successes  at  first  the  most  trifling.  Ah !  who  but  HuitziT, 
father  of  all  the  gods,  can  tell  the  end  ?  Blessed  the  day 


THE  KING  GIVES  A  TRUST  TO  HUALPA.  197 

when  I  can  set  before  him  the  prospect  of  a  throne  instead 
of  a  shield  !  " 

The  target  was  brought  him,  and  he  measured  the  dis 
tance  of  each  arrow  from  the  centre ;  and  when  he  saw  how 
exactly  Hualpa's  was  planted  between  the  others,  his  subtile 
mind  detected  the  purpose  and  the  generosity. 

"  The  victory  is  yours,  O  my  son,  and  so  is  the  shield," 
he  said,  slowly  and  thoughtfully.  "  But  ah  !  were  it  given 
you  to  look  with  eyes  like  mine,  —  with  eyes  sharpened  by 
age  for  the  discovery  of  blessings,  your  rejoicing  would  be 
over  a  friend  found,  whoso  love  is  proof  against  vanity  and 
the  hope  of  reward." 

Hualpa  understood  him,  and  was  proud.  What  was  the 
prize  lost  to  Montezuma  gained  ? 

"  It  grows  late ;  my  time  is  sacred,"  said  the  king. 
"  Lord  Hualpa,  stay  and  guide  me  to  the  palace.  And 
Io',  be  you  my  courier  to  the  'tzin.  Go  before,  and  tell  him 
I  am  coming." 

Tfie  boy  ran  ahead,  and  as  they  leisurely  followed  him, 
the  monarch  relapsed  into  melancholy.  In  the  shade  of  a 
ceiba  tree  he  stopped,  and  said,  "  There  is  a  service  you 
might  do  me,  that  lies  nearer  my  heart  than  any  other." 

"  The  will  of  the  great  king  is  mine,"  Hualpa  replied,  with 
a  low  reverence. 

"  "When  I  am  old,"  pursued  Montezuma,  "  when  the  things 
of  earth  begin  to  recede  from  me,  it  would  be  pleasant  to 
have  a  son  worthy  to  lift  the  Empire  from  my  shoulders. 
While  I  am  going  up  the  steps  of  the  temple,  a  seeker  of  the 
holy  peace  that  lies  in  worship  and  prayer,  the  government 
would  not  then  be  a  care  to  disturb  me.  But  I  am  sensible 
that  no  one  could  thus  relieve  me  unless  he  had  the  strong 
hand  of  a  warrior,  and  was  fearless  except  of  the  gods.  Io' 
is  my  only  hope.  From  you  he  first  caught  the  desire  of 
greatness,  and  you  can  make  him  great.  Take  him  as  a 


198  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


comrade ;  love  him  as  a  brother ;  teach  him  the  elements  of 
war,  - —  to  wield  spear  and  maquahuitl ;  to  bear  shield,  to 
command,  and  to  be  brave  and  generous.  Show  him  the 
ways  of  ambition.  Above  all," — as  he  spoke  he  raised  his 
head  and  hand,  and  looked  the  impersonation  of  his  idea,  — 
"  above  all,  let  him  know  that  a  king  may  find  his  glory  as 
much  in  the  love  of  his  people  as  in  his  power.  Am  I 
understood  ? " 

Hualpa  did  not  look  up,  but  said,  "Am  I  worthy1?  I 
have  the  skill  of  hand ;  but  have  I  the  learning  1 " 

"To  make  him  learned  belongs  to  the  priests.  I  only 
asked  you  to  make  him  a  warrior." 

"  Does  not  that  belong  to  the  gods  1  " 

"  No  :  he  derives  nothing  from  them  but  the  soul.  They 
will  not  teach  him  to  launch  the  arrow." 

"  Then  I  accept  the  charge.     Shall  he  go  with  me  1 " 

"  Always,  —  even  to  battle." 

0  mighty  king  !  was  the  shadow  of  the  coming  fate  upon 
thy  spirit  then  ? 


CHAPTEE  II. 

THE   KING  AND   THE   'TZIN. 

E  visit  was  unexpected  to  Guatamozin,  and  its  object 
JL  a  mystery ;  but  he  thought  only  of  paying  the  guest 
meet  honor  and  respect,  for  he  was  still  the  great  king.  And 
so,  bareheaded  and  unarmed,  he  went  forth,  and  meeting 
him  in  the  garden,  knelt,  and  saluted  him  after  the  manner 
of  the  court. 

"  I  am  glad  to  say  the  word  of  welcome  to  my  father's 
brother.  Know,  0  king,  that  my  house,  my  garden,  and  all 
you  behold  are  yours." 


THE  KING  AND  THE  'TZIN.  199 

Hualpa  left  them ;  then  Montezuma  replied,  the  sadness 
of  his  voice  softening  the  austerity  of  his  manner,  — 

"  I  have  loved  you  well,  Guatamozin.  Very  good  it  was 
to  mark  you  come  up  from  boyhood,  and  day  by  day  grow 
in  strength  and  thought.  I  never  knew  one  so  rich  in 
promise.  Ours  is  a  proud  race,  and  you  seemed  to  have  all  its 
genius.  From  the  beginning  you  were  thoughtful  and  provi 
dent  ;  in  the  field  there  was  always  a  victory  for  you,  and  in 
council  your  words  were  the  soul  of  policy.  0,  ill  was  the 
day  evil  came  between  us,  and  suspicion  shattered  the  love 
I  bore  you !  Arise !  I  have  not  crossed  the  lake  for  ex 
planations  ;  there  is  that  to  speak  of  more  important  to  us 
both." 

The  'tzin  arose,  and  looked  into  the  monarch's  face,  his 
own  suffused  with  grief. 

"  Is  not  a  king  punished  for  the  wrong  he  does  ? " 

Montezuma's  brows  lowered,  chilling  the  fixed  look  which 
was  his  only  answer ;  and  the  'tzin  spoke  on. 

"I  cannot  accuse  you  directly;  but  this  I  will  say,  0 
king  :  a  just  man,  and  a  brave,  never  condemns  another  upon 
suspicion." 

The  monarch's  eyes  blazed  with  sudden  fire,  and  from  his 
maxtlatl  he  drew  a  knife.  The  'tzin  moved  not ;  the  armed 
hand  stopped ;  an  instant  each  met  the  other's  gaze,  then  the 
weapon  was  flung  away. 

"  I  am  a  child,"  said  the  king,  vexed  and  ashamed. 
"  When  I  came  here  I  did  not  think  of  the  past,  I  thought 
only  of  the  Empire ;  but  trouble  has  devoured  my  strength 
of  purpose,  until  my  power  mocks  me,  and,  most  miserable 
of  men,  I  yearn  to  fly  from  myself,  without  knowing  where 
to  find  relief.  A  vague  impulse  —  whence  derived,  except 
from  intolerable  suffering  of  mind,  I  know  not  —  brought 
me  to  you.  0  'tzin,  silent  be  the  differences  that  separate 
UB.  Yours  I  know  to  be  a  tongue  of  undenled  truth ;  and 


200  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


if  not  for  me  now,  for  our  country,  and  the  renown  of  our 
fathers,  I  believe  you  will  speak." 

The  shame,  the  grief,  and  the  self-accusation  moved  the 
'tzin  more  than  the  deadly  menace. 

"  Set  my  feet,  0  king  !  set  my  feet  in  the  way  to  serve  or 
save  my  country,  and  I  will  tread  it,  though  every  step  be 
sown  with  the  terrors  of  Mictlan." 

"  I  did  not  misjudge  you,  my  son,"  the  king  said,  when 
he  had  again  perfectly  mastered  his  feelings. 

And  Guatamozin,  yet  more  softened,  would  have  given 
him  all  the  old  love,  but  that  Tula,  contracted  to"  the  Tez- 
cucan,  rose  to  memory.  Checking  the  impulse,  he  regarded 
the  unhappy  monarch  sorrowfully. 

And  the  latter,  glancing  up  at  the  sun,  said,  — 

"  It  is  getting  late.  I  left  the  train  going  to  the  hunting- 
grounds.  By  noon  they  will  return,  and  I  wish  to  be  at  the 
city  before  them.  My  canoe  lies  at  the  landing ;  walk  there 
with  me,  and  on  the  way  I  will  speak  of  the  purpose  of  my 
visit." 

Their  steps  as  they  went  were  slow,  and  their  faces  down 
cast  and  solemn.  The  king  was  first  to  speak. 

"  As  the  time  requires,  I  have  held  many  councils,  and 
taken  the  voice  of  priest,  warrior,  and  merchant ;  and  they 
agree  in  nothing  but  their  confusion  and  fear." 

"  The  king  forgets,  —  I  have  been  barred  his  councils,  and 
know  not  what  they  considered." 

"  True,  true ;  yet  there  is  but  one  topic  in  all  Anahuac,  — 
in  the  Empire.  Of  that,  the  tamanes  talk  gravely  as  their 
masters ;  only  one  class  asks,  '  Who  are  the  white  men  making 
all  this  trouble  1 '  while  the  other  argues,  '  They  are  here  ; 
they  are  gods.  What  are  we  to  do  ? ' " 

"  And  what  say  the  councils,  O  king  ?  " 

"It  could  not  be  that  all  would  speak  as  one  man.  Of 
different  castes,  they  are  differently  moved.  The  pabas 


THE  KING  ANL>  THE  'TZIN.  201 


believe  the  Sun  has  sent  us  some  godly  warriors,  whom 
nothing  earthly  can  subdue.  They  advise  patience,  friend 
ship,  and  peace.  'The  eye  of  Huitzil'  is  on  them,  num 
bering  their  marches.  In  the  shade  of  the  great  temple 
lie  awaits,  and  there  he  will  consume  them  with  a  breath,' 
—  so  say  the  pabas.  The  warriors  are  dumb,  or  else  bor 
row  and  reassert  the  opinions  of  the  holy  men.  'Give 
them  gold,  if  they  will  depart ;  if  not  that,  give  them 
peace,  and  leave  the  issue  to  the  gods/  —  so  they  say. 
Cuitlahua  says  war ;  so  does  Cacama.  The  merchants 
and  the  people  have  no  opinion,  —  nothing  but  fear.  For 
myself,  yesterday  I  was  for  war,  to-day  I  am  for  peace.  So 
far  I  have  chosen  to  act  upon  the  advice  of  the  pabas.  I 
have  sent  the  strangers  many  presents  and  friendly  messages, 
and  kept  ambassadors  in  their  camp ;  but  while  preserving 
such  relations,  I  have  continually  forbade  their  coming  to 
Tenochtitlan.  They  seem  bolder  than  men.  Who  but 
they  would  have  undertaken  the  march  from  Cempoalla  ? 
What  tribes  or  people  could  have  conquered  Tlascala,  as  they 
have  1  You  have  heard  of  their  battles.  Did  they  not  in  a 
day  what  we  have  failed  to  do  in  a  hundred  years  ?  With 
Tlascala  for  ally,  they  have  set  my  word  at  naught,  and, 
whether  they  be  of  the  sun  or  the  earth,  they  are  now 
marching  upon  Cholula,  most  sacred  city  of  the  gods.  And 
from  Cholula  there  is  but  one  more  march.  Already  from 
the  mountains  they  have  looked  wistfully  down  on  our  valley 
of  gardens,  upon  Tenochtitlan.  0  'tzin,  'tzin,  can  we  forget 
the  prophecy  ? " 

"  Shall  I  say  what  I  think  ?    Will  the  king  hear  me?" 
asked  Guatamozin. 
.     "  For  that  I  came.     Speak  ! " 

"  I  obey  gladly.  The  opportunity  is  dearer  to  me  than 
any  honor.  And,  speaking,  I  will  remember  of  what  rao* 
law." 


202  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Speak  as  if  you  were  king." 

"  Then  —  I  condemn  your  policy." 

The  monarch's  face  remained  placid.  If  the  bluff  words 
wounded  him,  he  dissembled  consummately. 

"  It  was  not  well  to  go  so  often  to  the  temple,"  Guata- 
mozin  continued.  "  Huitzil'  is  not  there ;  the  pabas  have 
only  his  name,  his  image  and  altar  ;  your  breast  is  his  true 
temple ;  there  ought  you  to  find  him.  Yesterday,  you 
say,  you  were  for  war ;  the  god  was  with  you  then  :  to-day 
you  are  for  peace;  the  god  has  abandoned  you.  I  know 
not  in  what  words  the  lords  Cuitlahua  and  Cacama  urged 
their  counsel,  nor  on  what  grounds  By  the  Sun  !  theirs  is 
the  only  policy  that  comports  with  the  fame  of  a  ruler  of 
Aztecs.  Why  speak  of  any  other?  For  me,  I  would  seek 
the  strangers  in  battle  and  die,  sooner  than  a  minstrel  should 
sing,  or  tradition  tell,  how  Guatamozin,  overcome  by  fear, 
dwelt  in  their  camp  praying  peace  as  the  beggar  prays  for 
bread." 

Literally,  Guatamozin  was  speaking  like  a  king. 

"  I  have  heard  your  pearl-divers  say,"  he  continued,  "  that 
they  never  venture  into  a  strange  sea  without  dread.  Like  the 
new  sea  to  them,  this  subject  has  been  to  your  people ;  but  how 
ever  the  declaration  may  strike  your  ears,  0  king,  I  have  sound 
ed  all  its  depths.  While  your  priests  were  asking  questions  of 
speechless  hearts  ;  while  your  lords  were  nursing  their  love 
of  ease  in  the  shade  and  perfume  of  your  palace  ;  while  your 
warriors,  forgetful  of  their  glory,  indulged  the  fancy  that  the 
new  enemy  were  gods ;  while  Montezuma  was  watching  stars, 
and  studying  omens,  and  listening  to  oracles  which  the  gods 
know  not,  hoping  for  wisdom  to  be  found  nowhere  as  cer 
tainly  as  in  his  own  royal  instincts,  —  face  to  face  with  the 
strangers,  in  their  very  camp,  I  studied  them,  their  cus 
toms,  language,  and  nature.  Take  heart,  0  king!  Gods, 
indeed  !  Why,  like  men,  I  have  seen  them  hunger  and  thirst/ 


THE  KING  AND  THE  'TZIN.  203 

like  men,  heard  them  complain ;  on  the  other  hand,  like 
men,  I  have  seen  them  feed  and  drink  to  surfeit,  and  heard 
them  sing  from  gladness.  What  means  their  love  of  gold? 
If  they  come  from  the  Sun,  where  the  dwellings  of  the  gods, 
and  the  hills  they  are  built  on,  are  all  of  gold,  why  should 
they  be  seeking  it  here  1  Nor  is  that  all.  I  listened  to 
the  interpreter,  through  whom  their  leader  explained  his 
religion,  and  they  are  worshippers,  like  us,  only  they  adore  a 
woman,  instead  of  a  great,  heroic  god  —  " 

"  A  woman  !  "  exclaimed  the  king. 

"  Nay,  the  argument  is  that  they  worship  at  all.  Gods  do 
not  adore  each  other !  " 

They  had  now  walked  some  distance,  and  so  absorbed  had 
Montezuma  been  that  he  had  not  observed  the  direction 
they  were  pursuing.  Emerging  suddenly  from  a  cypress- 
grove,  he  was  surprised  to  find  the  path  terminate  in  a  small 
lake,  which,  at  any  other-  time,  would  have  excited  his  ad 
miration.  Tall  trees,  draped  to  their  topmost  boughs  in  lux 
uriant  vines,  encircled  the  little  expanse  of  water,  and  in  its 
midst  there  was  an  island,  crowned  with  a  kiosk  or  sum 
mer-house,  and  covered  with  orange  shrubs  and  tapering 
palms. 

"  Bear  with  me,  0  king,"  said  Guatamozin,  observing  his 
wonder.  "  I  brought  you  here  that  you  may  be  abso 
lutely  convinced  of  the  nature  of  our  enemies.  On  that 
island  I  have  an  argument  stronger  than  the  vagaries  of 
pabas  or  the  fancies  of  warriors,  —  a  visible  argument." 

He  stepped  into  a  canoe  lying  at  the  foot  of  the  path,  and, 
with  a  sweep  of  the  paddle,  drove  across  to  the  island 
Remaining  there,  he  pushed  the  vessel  back. 

"  Come  over,  0  king,  come  over,  and  see." 

Montezuma  followed  boldly,  and  was  led  to  the  kiosk. 
The  retreat  was  not  one  of  frequent  resort.  Several  times 
they  were  stopped  by  vines  grown  across  the  path.  In- 


204  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


side  the  house,  the  visitor  had  no  leisure  for  observation  ; 
he  was  at  once  arrested  by  an  object  that  filled  him  with 
horror.  On  a  table  was  a  human  head.  Squarely  severed 
from  the  body,  it  stood  upright  on  the  base  of  the  neck, 
looking,  with  its  ghastly,  white  face,  directly  toward  the  en 
trance.  The  features  were  swollen  and  ferocious  ;  the  black 
brows  locked  in  a  frown,  with  which,  as  was  plainly  to 
be  seen,  nature  had  as  much  to  do  as  death ;  the  hair  was 
short,  and  on  the  crown  almost  worn  away ;  heavy,  matted 
beard  covered  the  cheeks  and  chin  ;  finally,  other  means  of 
identification  being  wanted,  the  coarse,  upturned  mustache 
would  have  betrayed  the  Spaniard.  Montezuma  surveyed 
the  head  for  some  time ;  at  length,  mastering  his  deep  loath 
ing,  he  advanced  to  the  table. 

"  A  teule  !  "  he  said,  in  a  low  voice. 

"  A  man,  —  only  a  man  ! "  exclaimed  Guatamozin,  so 
sternly  that  the  monarch  shrank  as  if  the  blue  lips  of  the 
dead  had  spoken  to  him.  "  Ask  yourself,  0  king,  Do  the 
gods  die?" 

Montezuma  smiled,  either  at  his  own  alarm  or  at  the 
ghastly  argument. 

"  "Whence  came  the  trophy  ? "  he  asked. 

"  Have  you  not  heard  of  the  battle  of  Kauhtlan? " 

"  Surely ;  but  tell  it  again." 

"When  the  strangers  marched  to  Tlascala,"  the 'tzin  be 
gan,  "  their  chief  left  a  garrison  behind  him  in  the  town  he 
founded.  I  was  then  on  the  coast.  To  convince  the  people, 
and  particularly  the  army,  that  they  were  men,  I  determined 
to  attack  them.  An  opportunity  soon  occurred.  Your  tax- 
gatherers  happening  to  visit  Nauhtlan,  the  township  re 
volted,  and  claimed  protection  of  the  garrison,  who  marched 
to  their  relief.  At  my  instance,  the  caciques  drew  their 
bands  together,  and  we  set  upon  the  enemy.  The  Totona- 
ques  fled  at  our  first  war-cry  ;  but  the  strangers  welcomed  us 


THE  KING  AND  THE  'TZIN.  205 

with  a  new  kind  of  war.  They  were  few  in  number,  but 
the  thunder  seemed  theirs,  and  they  hailed  great  stones 
upon  us,  and  after  a  while  came  against  us  upon  their  fierce 
animals.  When  my  warriors  saw  them  come  leaping  on, 
they  fled.  All  was  lost.  I  had  but  one  thought  more,  —  a 
captive  taken  might  save  the  Empire.  I  ran  where  the 
strangers  clove  their  bloody  way.  This  "  —  and  he  pointed 
to  the  head  —  "  was  the  chief,  and  I  met  him  in  the  rout, 
raging  like  a  tiger  in  a  herd  of  deer.  He  was  bold  and 
strong,  and,  shouting  his  battle-cry,  he  rushed  upon  me. 
His  spear  went  through  my  shield.  I  wrenched  it  from  him, 
and  slew  the  beast ;  then  I  dragged  him  away,  intending  to 
bring  him  alive  to  Tenochtitlan  ;  but  he  slew  himself.  So 
look  again !  What  likeness  is  there  in  that  to  a  god  1  0 
king,  I  ask  you,  did  ever  its  sightless  eyes  see  the  glories  of 
the  Sun,  or  its  rotting  lips  sing  a  song  in  heaven?  Is 
Huitzil'  or  Tezca'  made  of  such  stuff1?" 

The  monarch,  turning  away,  laid  his  hand  familiarly  on 
the  'tzin's  arm,  and  said,  — 

"  Come,  I  am  content.     Let  us  go." 

And  they  started  for  the  landing. 

"  The  strangers,  as  I  have  said,  my  son,  are  marching  to 
Cholula.  And  Malinche  —  so  their  chief  is  called  — •  now 
says  he  is  coming  to  Tenochtitlan." 

"  To  Tenochtitlan  !  In  its  honored  name,  in  the  name  of 
its  kings  and  gods,  I  protest  against  his  coming  !  " 

"  Too  late,  too  late  !  "  replied  Montezuma,  his  face  work, 
ing  as  though  a  pang  were  at  his  heart.  "  I  have  invited 
him  to  corne." 

"  Alas,  alas  !  "  cried  Guatamozin,  solemnly.  "  The  day  he 
enters  the  capital  will  be  the  commencement  of  the  woe,  if 
it  has  not  already  commenced.  The  many  victories  will 
have  been  in  vain.  The  provinces  will  drop  away,  like 
threaded  pearls  when  the  string  is  broken.  0  king,  better 


206  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


had  you  buried  your  crown,  —  better  for  your  people,  better 
for  your  own  glory  !  " 

"  Your  words  are  bitter,"  said  the  monarch,  gloomily. 

"  I  speak  from  the  fulness  of  a  heart  darkened  by  a  vision 
of  Anahuac  blasted,  and  her  glory  gone,"  returned  the  'tzin. 
Then  in  a  lament,  vivid  with  poetic  coloring,  he  set  forth  a 
picture  of  the  national  ruin,  —  the  armies  overthrown,  the 
city  wasted,  the  old  religion  supplanted  by  a  new.  At  the 
shore  where  the  canoe  was  waiting,  Montezuma  stopped,  and 
said,  — 

"  You  have  spoken  boldly,  and  I  have  listened  patiently. 
One  thing  more  :  What  does  Guatamozin  say  the  king  should 
do?" 

"  It  is  not  enough  for  the  servant  to  know  his  own  place  ; 
he  should  know  his  master's  also.  I  say  not  what  the 
king  should  do,  but  I  will  say  what  I  would  do  if  I  were 
king." 

Rising  from  the  obeisance  with  which  he  accompanied  the 
words,  he  said,  boldly,  — 

"  Cholula  should  be  the  grave  of  the  invaders.  The  whole 
population  should  strike  them  in  the  narrow  streets  where 
they  can  be  best  assailed.  Shut  up  in  some  square  or  temple, 
hunger  will  fight  them  for  us,  and  win.  But  I  would  not 
trust  the  citizens  alone.  In  sight  of  the  temples,  so  close  that 
a  conch  could  summon  them  to  the  attack,  I  would  encamp 
a  hundred  thousand  warriors.  Better  the  desolation  of 
Cholula  than  Tenochtitlan.  If  all  things  else  failed,  I  would 
take  to  the  last  resort ;  I  would  call  in  the  waters  of  Tezcuco 
and  drown  the  city  to  the  highest  azoteas.  So  would  I,  O 
king,  if  the  crown  and  signet  were  mine." 

Montezuma  looked  from  the  speaker  to  the  lake. 

"  The  project  is  bold,"  he  said,  musingly  ;  "  but  if  it 
failed,  my  son  1 " 

"  The  failure  should  be  but  the  beginning  of  the  war." 


LOVE  ON  THE  LAKE.  207 

"  What  would  the  nations  say  ? " 

"  They  would  say,  '  Montezuma  is  still  the  great  king.'  If 
they  do  not  that  —  * 

"  What  then  ?  " 

"  Call  on  the  teotuctli.  The  gods  can  "be  made  speak  what 
ever  your  policy  demands." 

"  Does  my  son  blaspheme  1 "  said  Montezuma,  angrily. 

"  Nay,  I  but  spoke  of  what  has  happened.  Long  rule  the 
good  god  of  our  fathers  !  " 

Yet  the  monarch  was  not  satisfied.  Never  before  had  dis 
course  been  addressed  to  him  in  strain  so  bold. 

"  They  see  all  things,  even  our  hearts,"  he  said,  turning 
coldly  away.  "  Farewell.  A  courier  will  come  for  you  when 
your  presence  is  wanted  in  the  city." 

And  so  they  separated,  conscious  that  no  healing  had  been 
brought  to  their  broken  friendship.  As  the  canoe  moved  off, 
the  'tzin  knelt,  but  the  king  looked  not  that  way  again. 


CHAPTER  III. 

LOVE  ON  THE  LAKE. 

"  ~TT"7~HAT  can  they  mean  ?     Here  have  they  been  loiter- 
V  V     ing  since  morning,  as  if  the  lake,  like  the  tianguez, 
were  a  place  for  idlers.     As  I  love  the  gods,  if  I  knew 
them,  they  should  be  punished  !  " 

So  the  fanner  of  the  chinampa  heretofore  described  as  the 
property  of  the  princess  Tula  gave  expression  to  his  wrath  ; 
after  which  he  returned  to  his  employment ;  that  is,  he 
went  crawling  among  the  shrubs  and  flowers,  pruning-knife 
in  hand,  here  clipping  a  limb,  there  loosening  the  loam. 
Emerging  from  the  thicket  after  a  protracted  stay,  his  ire  was 
again  aroused. 


208  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Still  there  !  Thieves  maybe,  watching  a  chance  to  steal. 
But  we  shall  see.  My  work  is  done,  and  I  will  not  take  eyes 
off  of  them  again." 

The  good  man's  alarm  was  occasioned  by  the  occupants  of 
a  canoe,  which,  since  sunrise,  had  been  plying  about  the 
garden,  never  stationary,  seldom  more  than  three  hundred 
yards  away,  yet  always  keeping  on  the  side  next  the  city. 
Once  in  a  while  the  slaves  withdrew  their  paddles,  leaving 
the  vessel  to  the  breeze ;  at  such  times  it  drifted  so  near  that 
he  could  see  the  voyageiws  reclining  in  the  shade  of  the  blue 
canopy,  wrapped  in  escaupils  such  as  none  but  lords  or  dis 
tinguished  merchants  were  permitted  to  wear. 

The  leisurely  voyageurs,  on  their  part,  appeared  to  have  a 
perfect  understanding  of  the  light  in  which  they  were  viewed 
from  the  chinampa. 

"  There  he  is  again  !     See  !  "  said  one  of  them. 

The  other  lifted  the  curtain,  and  looked,  and  laughed. 

"  Ah  !  if  we  could  send  an  arrow  there,  just  near  enough  to 
whistle  through  the  orange-trees.  Tula  would  never  hear 
the  end  of  the  story.  He  would  tell  her  how  two  thieves 
came  to  plunder  him  ;  how  they  shot  at  him  ;  how  narrowly 
he  escaped  —  " 

"  And  how  valiantly  he  defended  the  garden.  By  Our 
Mother,  Io',  I  have  a  mind  to  try  him  !  " 

Hualpa  half  rose  to  measure  the  distance,  but  fell  back  at 
once.  "  No.  Better  that  we  get  into  no  difficulty.  We 
are  messengers,  and  have  these  flowers  to  deliver.  Besides, 
the  judge  is  not  to  my  liking." 

"  Tula  is  merciful,  and  would  forgive  you  for  the  'tzin's 
sake." 

"  I  meant  the  judge  of  the  court,"  Hualpa  said,  soberly. 
"  You  never  saw  him  lift  the  golden  arrow,  as  if  to  draw  it 
across  your  portrait.  It  is  pleasanter  sitting  here,  in  the 
shade,  rocked  by  the  water." 


LOVE  ON  THE  LAKE.  209 

"  And  pleasanter  yet  to  be  made  noble  and  master  of  a 
palace  over  by  Cliapultepec,"  Io'  answered.  "  But  see ! 
Yonder  is  a  canoe." 

"  From  the  city  1 " 

"  It  is  too  far  off ;  wait  awhile." 

But  Hualpa,  impatient,  leaned  over  the  side,  and  looked 
for  himself.  At  the  time  they  were  up  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  lake,  at  least  a  league  from  the  capitaL  Long,  regular 
swells,  something  like  those  of  the  sea  when,  settling  into 
calm,  tumbled  the  surface  ;  far  to  the  south,  however,  he  dis 
cerned  the  canoe,  looking  no  larger  than  a  blue-winged  gulL 

"  It  fs  coming ;  I  see  the  prow  this  way.  Is  the  vase 
ready  1 " 

"  The  vase  !     You  forget ;  there  are  two  of  them." 

Hualpa  looked  down  confused. 

"  Does  the  'tziii  intend  them  both  for  Tula  ?  " 

Hualpa  was  the  more  embarrassed. 

"  Flowers  have  a  meaning ;  sometimes  they  tell  tales. 
Let  me  see  if  I  cannot  read  what  the  'tzin  would  say  to 
Tula." 

And  Io'  went  forward  and  brought  the  vases,  and,  placing 
them  before  him,  began  to  study  each  flower. 

"  Io',"  said  Hualpa,  in  a  low  voice,  "  but  one  of  the  vases 
is  the  'tzin's." 

"And  the  other  1 "  asked  the  prince,  looking  up. 

Hualpa's  face  flushed  deeper. 

"  The  other  is  mine.     Have  you  not  two  sisters  1 " 

lo's  eyes  dilated ;  a  moment  he  was  serious,  then  lie 
burst  out  laughing. 

"  I  have  you  now  !     Xenetzin,  —  she,  too,  has  a  lover." 

The  hunter  never  found  himself  so  at  loss  ;  he  played  with 
the  loops  of  his  escaupil,  and  refused  to  take  his  eyes  off  the 
coming  canoe.  Through  his  veins  the  blood  ran  merrily ;  ia 
his  brain  it  intoxicated,  like  wine. 


210  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  I  have  heard  how  love  makes  women  of  warriors  ;  now 
I  will  see,  —  I  will  see  how  brave  you  are." 

"  Ho,  slaves !  Put  the  canoe  about ;  yonder  are  those 
whom  I  would  meet,"  Hualpa  shouted. 

The  vessel  was  headed  to  the  south.  A  long  distance  had 
to  be  passed,  and  in  the  time  the  ambassador  recovered  him 
self.  Lying  down  again,  and  twanging  the  chord  of  his  bow, 
he  endeavored  to  compose  a  speech  to  accompany  the  deliv 
ery  of  the  vase  to  Tula.  But  his  thoughts  would  return  to 
his  own  love  ;  the  laugh  with  which  Io'  received  his  explan 
ation  flattered  him  •  and,  true  to  the  logic  of  the  passion, 
he  already  saw  the  vase  accepted,  and  himself  the  'favored 
of  Nenetzin.  From  that  point  the  world  of  dreams  was 
but  a  step  distant ;  he  took  the  step,  but  was  brought  back 

t>ylo.' 

"  They  recognize  us ;  Nenetzin  waves  her  scarf !  " 

The  approaching  vessel  was  elegant  as  the  art  of  the  Aztecan 
shipmaster  could  make  it.  The  prow  was  sculptured  into 
the  head  and  slender,  curved  neck  of  a  swan.  The  passen 
gers,  fair  as  ever  journeyed  on  sea  wave,  sat  under  a  canopy 
of  royal  green,  above  which  floated  a  panache  of  long,  trailing 
feathers,  colored  like  the  canopy.  Like  a  creature  of  the 
water,  so  lightly,  so  gracefully,  the  boat  drew  nigh  the  mes 
sengers.  When  alongside,  Io'  sprang  aboard,  and,  with  boy 
ish  ardor,  embraced  his  sisters. 

"  What  has  kept  you  so  1 " 

"We  stayed  to  see  twenty  thousand  warriors  cross  the 
causeway,"  replied  Nenetzin. 

"  Where  can  they  be  going  1 " 

"ToCholula." 

The  news  excited  the  boy  ;  turning  to  speak  to  Hualpa,  he 
was  reminded  of  his  duty. 

"  Here  is  a  messenger  from  Guatamozin,  —  the  lord  Hualpa, 
who  slew  th°,  tiger  in  the  garden." 


LOVE   ON  THE  LAKE.  211 

The  heart  of  the  young  warrior  beat  violently  ;  he  touched 
the  floor  of  the  canoe  with  his  palm. 

And  Tula  spoke.  "  We  have  heard  the  minstrels  sing  the 
story.  Arise,  lord  Hualpa." 

"  The  words  of  the  noble  Tula  are  pleasanter  than  any 
ong.  Will  she  hear  the  message  I  bring  ? " 

She  looked  at  Io'  and  Nenetzin,  and  assented. 

"  Guatamozin  salutes  the  noble  Tula.  He  hopes  the 
blessings  of  the  gods  are  about  her.  He  bade  me  say,  that 
four  mornings  ago  the  king  visited  him  at  his  palace,  but  talked 
of  nothing  but  the  strangers ;  so  that  the  contract  with 
Iztlil',  the  Tezcucan,  still  holds  good.  Further,  the  king  asked 
his  counsel  as  to  what  should  be  done  with  the  strangers.  He 
advised  war,  whereupon  the  king  became  angry,  and  de 
parted,  saying  that  a.  courier  would  come  for  the  'tzin  when 
his  presence  was  wanted  in  the  city;  so  the  banishment 
also  holds  good.  And  so,  finally,  there  is  no  more  hope  from 
interviews  with  the  king.  All  that  remains  is  to  leave  the 
cause  to  time  and  the  gods." 

A  moment  her  calm  face  was  troubled ;  but  she  recovered, 
and  said,  with  simple  dignity,  — 

"  I  thank  you.     Is  the  'tzin  well  and  patient  ? " 

"  He  is  a  warrior,  noble  Tula,  and  foemen  are  marching 
through  the  provinces,  like  welcome  guests ;  he  thinks  of 
them,  and  curses  the  peace  as  a  season  fruitful  of  dishonor." 

Nenetzin,  who  had  been  quietly  listening,  was  aroused. 

"  Has  he  heard  the  news  1  Does  he  not  know  a  battle  is 
to  be  fought  in  Cholula  1 " 

"  Such  tidings  will  be  medicine  to  his  spirit." 

"  A  battle  !  "  cried  Io'.     "  Tell  me  about  it,  Nenetzin." 

"  I,  too,  will  listen,"  said  Hualpa ;  "  for  the  gods  have 
given  me  a  love  of  words  spoken  with  a  voice  sweeter  than 
the  flutes  of  Tezca'." 

The  girl  laughed  aloud,  and  was  well  pleased,  although 
she  answered,  — 


212  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  My  father  gave  me  a  bracelet  this  morning,  but  he  did 
not  carry  his  love  so  far  as  to  tell  me  his  purposes ;  and  I 
am  not  yet  a  warrior  to  talk  to  warriors  about  battles.  The 
lord  Maxtla,  even  Tula  here,  can  better  tell  you  of  such 
things." 

"Of  what?"  asked  Tula. 

"  Io'  and  his  friend  wish  to  know  all  about  the  war." 

The  elder  princess  mused  a  moment,  and  then  said  gravely, 
"You  may  tell  the  'tzin,  as  from  me,  lord  Hualpa,  that 
twenty  thousand  warriors  this  morning  marched  for  Cho- 
lula  ;  that  the  citizens  there  have  been  armed  ;  and  to-morrow, 
the  gods  willing,  Malinche  will  be  attacked.  The  king  at 
one  time  thought  of  conducting  the  expedition  himself ;  but, 
by  persuasion  of  the  pabft,  Mualox,  he  has  given  the  com 
mand  to  the  lord  Cuitlahua." 

Io'  clapped  his  hands.  "  The  gods  are  kind ;  let  us  re 
joice,  0  Hualpa  !  What  marching  of  armies  there  will  be  ! 
What  battles  !  Hasten,  and  let  us  to  Cholula ;  we  can  be 
there  before  the  night  sets  in." 

"  What !  "  said  Nenetziu.  "  Would  you  fight,  Io'  1  No, 
no ;  come  home  with  us,  and  I  will  put  my  parrot  in  a 
tree,  and  you  may  shoot  at  him  all  day." 

The  boy  went  to  his  own  canoe,  and,  returning,  held  up  a 
shield  of  pearl  and  gold.  "  See !  With  a  bow  I  beat  our 
father  and  the  lord  Hualpa,  and  this  was  the  prize." 

"That  a  shield!"  Nenetzin  said.  "A  toy, — a  mere 
brooch  to  a  Tlascalan.  I  have  a  tortoise-shell  that  will 
serve  you  better." 

The  boy  frowned,  and  a  rejoinder  was  on  his  lips  when 
Tula  spoke. 

"  The  flowers  in  your  vases  are  very  beautiful,  lord  Hualpa. 
What  altar  is  to  receive  the  tribute  ?  " 

Nenetzin's  badinage  had  charmed  the  ambassador  into  for- 
getfulness  of  his  embassy ;  so  he  answered  confusedly,  "  The 


LOVE  ON  THE  LAKE.  213 

noble  Tula  reminds  me  of  my  duty.  Before  now,  standing 
upon  the  hills  of  Tihuanco,  watching  the  morning  bright 
ening  in  the  east,  I  have  forgotten  myself.  I  pray  par 
don  —  " 

Tula  glanced  archly  at  Nenetzin.  "  The  morning  looks 
pleasant ;  doubtless,  its  worshipper  will  be  forgiven." 

And  then  he  knew  the  woman's  sharp  eyes  had  seen  into 
his  inner  heart,  and  that  the  audacious  dream  he  there 
cherished  was  exposed  ;  yet  his  confusion  gave  place  to  de 
light,  for  the  discovery  had  been  published  with  a  smile. 
Thereupon,  he  set  one  of  the  vases  at  her  feet,  and  touched 
the  floor  with  his  palm,  and  said,  — 

"  I  was  charged  by  Guatamozin  to  salute  you  again,  and 
say  that  these  flowers  would  tell  you  all  his  hopes  and 
wishes." 

As  she  raised  the  gift,  her  hand  trembled  ;  then  he  dis 
covered  how  precious  a  simple  Cholulan  vase  could  become ; 
and  with  that  his  real  task  was  before  him.  Taking  the 
other  vase,  he  knelt  before  Nenetzin. 

"  I  have  but  little  skill  in  courtierly  ways,"  he  said.  "  In 
flowers  I  see  nothing  but  their  beauty ;  and  what  I  would 
have  these  say  is,  that  if  Nenetzin,  the  beautiful  Nenetzin, 
will  accept  them,  she  will  make  me  very  happy." 

The  girl  looked  at  Tula,  then  at  him  ;  then  she  raised  the 
vase,  and,  laughing,  hid  her  face  in  the  flowers. 

But  little  more  was  said  ;  and  soon  the  lashings  were 
cast  olf,  and  the  vessels  separated. 

On  the  return  Hualpa  stopped  at  Tenochtitlan,  and  in  the 
shade  of  the  portico,  over  a  cup  of  the  new  beverage,  now 
all  the  fashion,  received  from  Xoli  the  particulars  of  the 
contemplated  attack  upon  the  strangers  in  Cholula ;  for,  with 
his  usual  diligence  in  the  fields  of  gossip,  the  broker  had 
early  informed  himself  of  all  that  was  to  be  heard  of  the 
affair.  And  that  night,  while  Io'  dreamed  of  war,  and 


214  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


the  hunter  of  love,  the  'tzin  paced  his  study  or  wandered 
through  his  gardens,  feverishly  solicitous  about  the  result 
of  the  expedition. 

"  If  it  fail,"  he  repeated  over  and  over,  —  "if  it  fail, 
Malinche  will  enter  Tenochtitlan  as  a  god  1 " 


CHAPTEE  IV. 

THE   KING    DEMANDS   A   SIGN    OF   MUALOX. 

NEXT  morning  Mualox  ascended  the  tower  of  his  old 
Cu.  The  hour  was  so  early  that  the  stars  were  still 
shining  in  the  east.  He  fed  the  fire  in  the  great  urn  until 
it  burst  into  cheery  flame ;  then,  spreading  his  mantle  on 
the  roof,  he  laid  down  to  woo  back  the  slumber  from  which 
he  had  been  taken.  By  and  by,  a  man,  armed  with  a  jave 
lin,  and  clad  in  cotton  mail,  came  up  the  steps,  and  spoke  to 
the  paba. 

"  Does  the  servant  of  his  god  sleep  this  morning  ? " 

Mualox  arose,  and  kissed  the  pavement. 

"  Montezuma  is  welcome.  The  blessing  of  the  gods  upon 
him!" 

"  Of  aU  the  gods,  Mualox  ? " 

"  Of  all,  —  even  Quetzal's,  0  king !  " 

"  Arise  !  Last  night  I  bade  you  wait  me  here.  I  said  I 
would  come  with  the  morning  star ;  yonder  it  is,  and  I  am 
faithful.  The  time  is  fittest  for  my  business." 

Mualox  arose,  and  stood  before  the  monarch  with  bowed 
bead  and  crossed  hands. 

"  Montezuma  knows  his  servant." 

"  Yet  I  seek  to  know  him  better.  Mualox,  Mualox,  have 
you  room  for  a  perfect  love  aside  from  Quetzal'  ?  What  would 
you  do  for  me  ?  " 


THE  KING  DEMANDS  A  SIGN  OF  MUALOX.          215 

"  Ask  me  rather  what  I  would  not  do." 

"  Hear  me,  then.  Lately  you  have  been  a  counsellor  in 
my  palace  ;  with  my  policy  and  purposes  you  are  acquainted  ; 
you  knew  of  the  march  to  Cholula,  and  the  order  to  at 
tack  the  strangers ;  you  were  present  when  they  were  re 
solved  —  " 

"  And  opposed  them.  Witness  for  me  to  Quetzal',  0  king !  " 

"Yes,  you  prophesied  evil  and  failure  from  them,  and 
for  that  I  seek  you  now.  Tell  me,  0  Mualox,  spake  you 
then  as  a  prophet  1 " 

The  paba  ventured  to  look  up  and  study  the  face  of  the 
questioner  as  well  as  he  could  in  the  flickering  light. 

"  I  know  the  vulgar  have  called  me  a  magician,"  he  said, 
slowly ;  "  and  sometimes  they  have  spoken  of  my  commerce 
with  the  stars.  To  say  that  either  report  is  true,  were 
wrong  to  the  gods.  Regardful  of  them,  I  cannot  answer 
you ;  but  I  can  say  —  and  its  sufficiency  depends  on  your 
wisdom  —  your  slave,  0  king,  is  warned  of  your  intention. 
You  come  asking  a  sign ;  you  would  have  me  prove  my 
power,  that  it  may  be  seen." 

"By  the  Sun  — " 

"  Nay,  —  if  my  master  will  permit,  —  another  word." 

"  I  came  to  hear  you  ;  say  on." 

"You  spoke  of  me  as  a  councillor  in  the  palace.  How 
may  we  measure  the  value  of  honors  1  By  the  intent  with 
which  they  are  given  1  0  king,  had  you  not  thought  the 
poor  paba  would  use  his  power  for  the  betrayal  of  his  god  ; 
ha .1  you  not  thought  he  could  stand  between  you  and  the 
wrath  —  " 

"  No  more,  Mualox,  no  more !  "  said  Montezuma.  "  I  con 
fess  I  asked  you  to  the  palace  that  you  might  befriend  me. 
Was  I  wrong  to  count  on  your  loyalty  1  Are  you  not  of 
Anahuac  ?  And  further ;  I  confess  I  come  now  seeking  c» 
sign.  I  command  you  to  show  me  the  future  !  " 


216  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  If  you  do  indeed  believe  me  the  beloved  of  Quetzal*  and 
his  prophet,  then  are  you  bold,  —  even  for  a  king." 

"  Until  I  wrong  the  gods,  why  should  I  fear  ]  I,  too,  am 
a  priest." 

"  Be  wise,  0  my  master !  Let  the  future  alone ;  it  is 
sown  with  sorrows  to  all  you  love." 

"  Have  done,  paba  !  "  the  king  exclaimed,  angrily.  "  I  am 
weary,  —  by  the  Sun  !  I  am  weary  of  such  words." 

The  holy  man  bowed  reverently,  and  touched  the  floor 
with  his  palm,  saying,  — 

"  Mualox  lays  his  heart  at  his  master's  feet.  In  the  time 
when  his  beard  was  black  and  his  spirit  young,  he  began 
the  singing  of  two  songs,  —  one  of  worship  to  Quetzal',  the 
other  of  love  for  Montezuma." 

These  words  he  said  tremulously ;  and  there  was  that  in 
the  manner,  in  the  bent  form,  in  the  low  obeisance,  which 
soothed  the  impatience  of  the  king,  so  that  he  turned  away, 
and  looked  out  over  the  city.  And  day  began  to  gild  the 
east ;  in  a  short  time  the  sun  would  claim  his  own.  Still  the 
monarch  thought,  still  Mualox  stood  humbly  waiting  his 
pleasure.  At  length  the  former  approached  the  fire. 

"  Mualox,"  he  said,  speaking  slowly,  "  I  crossed  the  lake 
the  other  day,  and  talked  with  Guatamozin  about  the 
strangers.  He  satisfied  me  they  are  not  teules,  and,  more,  he 
urged  me  to  attack  them  in  Cholula." 

"  The  'tzin  !  "  exclaimed  Mualox,  in  strong  surprise. 

Moutezuma  knew  the  love  of  the  paba  for  the  young 
cacique  rested  upon  his  supposed  love  of  Quetzal' ;  so  he 
continued,  — 

"  The  attack  was  planned  by  him ;  only  he  would  have 
sent  a  hundred  thousand  warriors  to  help  the  citizens.  The 
order  is  out ;  the  companies  are  there ;  blood  will  run  in  the 
streets  of  the  holy  city  to-day.  The  battle  waits  on  the  sun, 
and  it  is  nearly  up.  Mualox,"  —  his  manner  became  solemn,. 


THE  KING  DEMANDS  A  SIGN  OF   MUALOX.         217 

—  "  Mualox,  on  this  clay's  work  bides  my  peace.  The  morn 
ing  comes  :  by  all  your  prophet's  power,  tell  me  what  the 
night  will  bring  !  " 

Sorely  was  the  paba  troubled.  The  king's  faith,  in  his 
qualities  as  prophet  he  saw  was  absolute,  and  that  it  was  too 
late  to  deny  the  character. 

"  Does  Montezuma  believe  the  Sun  would  tell  me  what  it 
withholds  from  its  child  ? " 

"  Quetzal',  not  the  Sun,  will  speak  to  you." 

"  But  Quetzal'  is  your  enemy." 

Montezurna  laid  his  hand  on  the  paba's.  "  I  have  heard 
you  speak  of  love  for  me ;  prove  it  now,  and  your  reward 
shall  be  princely.  I  will  give  you  a  palace,  and  many  slaves, 
and  riches  beyond  count." 

Mualox  bent  his  head,  and  was  silent.  Enjoyment  of  a 
palace  meant  abandonment  of  the  old  Cu  and  sacred  ser 
vice.  Just  then  the  wail  of  a  watcher  from  a  distant  temple 
swept  faintly  by ;  he  heard  the  cry,  and  from  his  surplice 
drew  a  trumpet,  and  through  it  sung  with  a  swelling 
voice,  — 

"  Morning  is  come  !  Morning  is  come  !  To  the  temples, 
0  worshippers  !  Morning  is  come  ! " 

And  the  warning  hymn,  the  same  that  had  been  heard 
from  the  old  tower  for  so  many  ages,  heard  heralding  suns 
while  the  city  was  founding,  given  now,  amid  the  singer's 
sore  perplexity,  was  an  assurance  to  his  listening  deity  tha?t 
he  was  faithful  against  kingly  blandishments  as  well  as 
kingly  neglect.  While  the  words  were  being  repeated  from 
the  many  temples,  he  stood  attentive  to  them,  then  he  turned, 
and  said,  — 

"  Montezuma  is  generous  to  his  slave ;  but  ambition  is  a 
goodly  tree  gone  to  dust  in  my  heart ;  and  if  it  were  not,  O 
king,  what  are  all  your  treasures  to  that  in  the  golden  cham 
ber  1     Nay,  keep  your  offerings,  and  let  me  keep  the  temple. 
10 


218  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


I  hunger  after  no  riches  except  such  as  lie  in  the  love  of 
Quetzal'." 

"  Then  tell  me,"  said  the  monarch,  impatiently,  —  "  with 
out  price,  tell  me  his  will." 

"  I  cannot,  I  am  but  a  man  ;  but  this  much  I  can — "  He 
faltered  ;  the  hands  crossed  upon  his  breast  closed  tightly, 
and  the  breast  labored  painfully. 

"  I  am  waiting.     Speak  !    What  can  you  1 " 

"  Will  the  king  trust  his  servant,  and  go  with  him  down 
into  the  Cu  again  1 " 

"  To  talk  with  the  Morning,  this  is  the  place/'  said  the 
monarch,  too  well  remembering  the  former  introduction  to 
the  mysteries  of  the  ancient  house. 

"  My  master  mistakes  me  for  a  juggling  soothsayer ;  he 
thinks  I  will  look  into  the  halls  of  the  Sun  through  burning 
drugs,  and  the  magic  of  unmeaning  words.  I  have  nothing 
to  do  with  the  Morning ;  I  have  no  incantations.  I  am  but 
the  dutiful  slave  of  Quetzal',  the  god,  and  Montezuma,  the 
king." 

The  royal  listener  looked  away  again,  debating  with  his 
fears,  which,  it  is  but  just  to  say,  were  not  of  harm  from 
the  paba.  Men  unfamiliar  with  the  custom  do  not  think 
lightly  of  encountering  things  unnatural ;  in  this  instance, 
moreover,  favor  was  not  to  be  hoped  from  the  god  through 
whom  the  forbidden  knowledge  was  to  come.  But  curiosity 
and  an  uncontrollable  interest  in  the  result  of  the  affair  in 
Cholula  overcame  his  apprehensions. 

"  I  will  go  with  you.     I  am  ready,"  he  said. 

The  old  man  stooped,  and  touched  the  roof,  and,  rising, 
said,  "  I  have  a  little  world  of  my  own,  0  king ;  and  though 
without  sun  and  stars,  and  the  grand  harmony  which  only 
the  gods  can  give,  it  has  its  wonders  and  beauty,  and  is  to 
me  a  place  of  perpetual  delight.  Bide  my  return  a  little 
while.  I  will  go  and  prepare  the  way  for  you." 


THE  KING  DEMANDS  A  SIGN  OF  MUALOX.          219 

Eesuming  his  mantle,  he  departed,  leaving  the  king  to 
study  the  new-born  day.  When  he  came  back,  the  valley 
and  the  sky  were  full  of  the  glory  of  the  sun  full  risen. 
And  they  descended  to  the  azoteas,  thence  to  the  court 
yard.  Taking  a  lamp  hanging  in  a  passage-door,  the  holy 
man,  with  the  utmost  reverence,  conducted  his  guest  into 
the  labyrinth.  At  first,  the  latter  tried  to  recollect  the 
course  taken,  the  halls  and  stairs  passed,  and  the  stories 
descended  ;  but  the  thread  was  too  often  broken,  the  light 
too  dim,  the  way  too  intricate.  Soon  he  yielded  himself 
entirely  to  his  guide,  and  followed,  wondering  much  at  the 
massiveness  of  the  building,  and  the  courage  necessary  to 
live  there  alone.  Ignorant  of  the  zeal  which  had  become 
the  motive  of  the  paba's  life,  inspiring  him  with  incredible 
cunning  and  industry,  and  equally  without  a  conception  of 
the  power  there  is  in  one  idea  long  awake  in  the  soul  and 
nursed  into  mania,  it  was  not  singular  that,  as  they  went, 
the  monarch  should  turn  the  very  walls  into  witnesses  cor 
roborant  of  the  traditions  of  the  temple  and  the  weird 
claims  of  its  keeper. 

Passing  the  kitchen,  and  descending  the  last  flight  of  steps, 
they  came  to  the  trap-door  in  the  passage,  beside  which  lay 
the  ladder  of  ropes. 

"  Be  of  courage  a  little  longer,  0  king,  "  said  Mualox, 
flinging  the  ladder  through  the  doorway.  "  We  are  almost 
there." 

And  the  paba,  leaving  the  lamp  above,  committed  him 
self  confidently  to  the  ropes  and  darkness  below.  A  sus 
picion  of  his  madness  occurred  to  the  king,  whose  situa 
tion  called  for  consideration  ;  in  fact,  he  hesitated  to 
follow  farther ;  twice  he  was  called  to  ;  and  when,  finally, 
he  did  go  down,  the  secret  of  his  courage  was  an  idea  that 
they  were  about  to  emerge  from  the  dusty  caverns  into 
the  freer  air  of  day ;  for,  while  yet  in  the  passage,  he 


220  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


heard  the  whistle  of  a  bird,  and  fancied  he  detected  a  fra 
grance  as  of  flowers. 

"  Your  hand  now,  0  king,  and  Mualox  will  lead  you  into 
.his  world." 

The  motives  that  constrained  the  holy  man  to  this  step  are 
not  easily  divined.  Of  all  the  mysteries  of  the  house,  that 
hall  was  by  him  the  most  cherished  ;  and  of  all  men  the  king 
was  the  last  whom  he  would  have  voluntarily  chosen  as  a 
participant  in  its  secrets,  since  he  alone  had  power  to  break 
them  up.  The  necessity  must  have  been  very  great ;  pos 
sibly  he  felt  his  influence  and  peculiar  character  dependent 
upon  yielding  to  the  pressure  ;  the  moment  the  step  was 
resolved  upon,  however,  nothing  remained  but  to  use  the 
mysteries  for  the  protection  of  the  abode;  and  with  that 
purpose  he  went  to  prepare  the  way. 

Much  study  would  most  of  us  have  required  to  know 
what  was  essential  to  the  purpose ;  not  so  the  paba.  He 
merely  trimmed  the  lamps  already  lighted,  and  lighted  and 
disposed  others.  His  plan  was  to  overwhelm,  the  visitor  by 
the  first  glance;  without  warning,  without  time  to  study 
details,  to  flash  upon  him  a  crowd  of  impossibilities.  In  the 
mass,  the  generality,  the  whole  together,  a  god's  hand  was 
to  be  made  apparent  to  a  superstitious  fancy. 


CHAPTER    V. 

THE   MASSACRE   IN   CHOLULA. 

INSIDE  the  hall,  scarcely  a  step  from  the  curtain,  the 
monarch  stopped  bewildered  ;  half  amazed,  half  alarmed, 
he  surveyed  the  chamber,  now  glowing  as  with  day.    Flowers 
blooming,  birds  singing,  shrubbery,  thick  and  green  as  in 


THE   MASSACRE  IN   CHOLULA.  221 

his  own  garden.  Whence  came  they  1  how  were  they  nur 
tured  down  so  far  1  And  the  countless  subjects  painted  on 
the  ceiling  and  walls,  and  woven  in  colors  on  the  tapestry,  — 
surely  they  were  the  work  of  the  same  master  who  had 
wrought  so  marvellously  in  the  golden  chamber.  The  extent 
of  the  hall,  exaggerated  by  the  light,  impressed  him.  Filled 
with  the  presence  of  what  seemed  impossibilities,  he  cried 
out,  — 

"  The  abode  of  Quetzal'  !  " 

"  No,"  answered  Mualox,  "  not  his  abode,  only  his  tem 
ple,  —  the  temple  of  his  own  building." 

And  from  that  time  it  was  with  the  king  as  if  the  god 
were  actually  present. 

The  paba  read  the  effect  in  the  monarch's  manner,  —  in 
his  attitude,  in  the '  softness  of  his  tread,  in  the  cloudy, 
saddened  expression  of  his  countenance,  in  the  whisper  with 
which  he  spoke  ;  he  read  it,  and  was  assured. 

"  This  way,  0  king  !  Though  your  servant  cannot  let 
you  see  into  the  Sun,  or  give  you  the  sign  required,  follow 
him,  and  he  will  bring  you  to  hear  of  events  in  Cholula  even 
as  they  transpire.  Eemember,  however,  he  says  now  that 
the  Cholulans  and  the  twenty  thousand  warriors  will  fail, 
and  the  night  bring  you  but  sorrow  and  repentance." 

Along  the  aisles  he  conducted  him,  until  they  came  to  the 
fountain,  where  the  monarch  stopped  again.  The  light  there 
was  brighter  than  in  the  rest  of  the  hall.  A  number  of 
birds  flew  up,  scared  by  the  stranger ;  in  the  space  around 
the  marble  basin  stood  vases  crowned  with  flowers ;  the  floor 
was  strewn  with  wreaths  and  garlands  ;  the  water  sparkled 
with  silvery  lustre ;  yet  all  were  lost  on  the  wondering  guest, 
who  saw  only  Tecetl,  —  a  vision,  once  seen,  to  be  looked  at 
again  and  again. 

Upon  a  couch,  a  little  apart  from  the  fountain,  she  sat, 
leaning  against  a  pile  of  cushions,  which  was  covered  by  a 


222  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


mantle  of  plumaje.  Her  garments  were  white,  and  wholly 
without  ornament ;  her  hair  strayed  lightly  from  a  wreath 
upon  her  head ;  the  childish  hands  lay  clasped  in  her  lap ; 
upon  the  soft  mattress  rested  the  delicate  limbs,  covered,  but 
not  concealed,  the  soles  of  the  small  feet  tinted  with  warmth 
and  life,  like  the  pink  and  rose  lining  of  certain  shells.  So 
jlfragile,  innocent,  and  beautiful  looked  she,  and  so  hushed 
'and  motionless  withal,  —  so  like  a  spirituality,  —  that  the 
monarch's  quick  sensation  of  sympathy  shot  through  his 
heart  an  absolute  pain. 

"  Disturb  her  not ;  let  her  sleep,"  he  whispered,  waving 
his  hand. 

Mualox  smiled. 

"  Nay,  the  full  battle-cry  of  your  armies  would  not  waken 
her." 

The  influence  of  the  Will  was  upon  her,  stronger  than 
slumber.  Not  yet  was  she  to  see  a  human  being  other  than 
the  paba,  —  not  even  the  great  king.  A  little  longer  was  she 
to  be  happy  in  ignorance  of  the  actual  world.  Ah,  many, 
many  are  the  victims  of  affection  unwise  in  its  vsry  fulness  ! 

Again  and  again  the  monarch  scanned  the  girl's  face, 
charmed,  yet  awed.  The  paba  had  said  the  sleep  was  wake 
less  ;  and  that  was  a  mystery  unreported  by  tradition,  un 
known  to  his  philosophy,  and  rarer,  if  not  greater,  than 
death.  If  life  at  all,  what  kind  was  it  1  The  longer  he 
looked  and  reflected,  the  lovelier  she  grew.  So  completely 
was  his  credulity  gained  that  he  thought  not  once  of 
questioning  Mualox  about  her;  he  was  content  with  be 
lieving. 

The  paba,  meantime,  had  been  holding  one  of  her  hands, 
and  gazing  intently  in  her  face.  When  he  looked  up,  the 
monarch  was  startled  by  his  appearance  ;  his  air  was  impos 
ing,  his  eyes  lighted  with  the  mesmeric  force. 

"Sit,   0  king,  and  give  ear.     Through   the  lips  of  his 


THE  MASSACRE  IN  CHOLULA.  223 

child,  Quetzal'  will  speak,  and  tell  you  of  the  day  in  Cho- 
lula," 

He  spoke  imperiously,  and  the  monarch  obeyed.  Then, 
disturbed  only  by  the  chiming  of  the  fountain,  and  some 
times  by  the  whistling  of  the  birds,  Tecetl  began,  and  softly, 
brokenly,  unconsciously  told  of  the  massacre  in  the  holy  city 
of  Cholula.  Not  a  question  was  asked  her.  There  was  little 
prompting  aloud.  Much  did  the  king  marvel,  never  once 
doubted  he. 

"  The  sky  is  very  clear,"  said  Tecetl.  "  I  rise  into  the 
air  ;  I  leave  the  city  in  the  lake,  and  the  lake  itself;  now  the 
mountains  are  below  me.  Lo,  another  city  !  I  descend 
again  ;  the  azoteas  of  a  temple  receives  me  ;  around  are  great 
houses.  "Who  are  these  I  see  1  There,  in  front  of  the  tem 
ple,  they  stand,  in  lines  ;  even  in  the  shade  their  garments 
glisten.  They  have  shields  ;  some  bear  long  lances,  some  sit 
on  strange  animals  that  have  eyes  of  fire  and  ring  the  pave 
ment  with  their  stamping." 

"  Does  the  king  understand  1 "  asked  Mualox. 

"  She  describes  the  strangers,"  was  the  reply. 

And  Tecetl  resumed.  "  There  is  one  standing  in  the  midst 
of  a  throng ;  he  speaks,  they  listen.  I  cannot  repeat  his 
words,  or  understand  them,  for  they  are  not  like  ours.  Now 
I  see  his  face,  and  it  is  white ;  his  eyes  are  black,  and  his 
cheeks  bearded ;  he  is  angry ;  he  points  to  the  city  around  the 
temple,  and  his  voice  grows  harsh,  and  his  face  dark." 

The  king  approached  a  step,  and  whispered,  "  Malinche  ! " 

But  Mualox  replied  with  flashing  eyes,  "The  servant 
knows  his  god ;  it  is  Quetzal' !  " 

"  He  speaks,  I  listen,"  Tecetl  continued,  after  a  rest,  and 
thenceforth  her  sentences  were  given  at  longer  intervals. 
"  Now  he  is  through ;  he  waves  his  hand,  and  the  listeners 
retire,  and  go  to  different  quarters ;  in  places  they  kindle 
fires  ;  the  gates  are  open,  and  some  station  themselves  there." 


224  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Named  she  where  this  is  happening  1 "  asked  Montezuma. 
"  She  describes  the  strangers  ;  and  are  they  not  in  Cholula, 

0  king  1     She  also  spoke  of  the  azoteas  of  a  temple  —  " 

"  True,  true,"  replied  the  king,  moodily.  "  The  prepara 
tions  must  be  going  on  in  the  sqiiare  of  the  temple  in  which 
Malinche  was  lodged  last  night." 

Tecetl  continued.  "  And  now  I  look  down  the  street ;  a 
crowd  approaches  from  the  city  — 

"  Speak  of  them,"  said  Mualox.  "  I  would  know  who  they 
are." 

"  Most  of  them  wear  long  beards  and  robes,  like  yours, 
father,  —  robes  white  and  reaching  to  their  feet ;  in  front  a 
few  come,  swinging  censers  —  " 

"  They  are  pabas  from  the  temples,"  said  Mualox. 

"  Behind  them  I  see  a  greater  crowd,"  she  continued. 
"  How  stately  their  step  !  how  beautiful  their  plumes  !  " 

"  The  twenty  thousand  !  the  army  !  "  said  Mualox. 

"  No,  she  speaks  of  them  as  plumed.  They  must  be  lords 
and  caciques  going  to  the  temple."  While  speaking,  the 
monarch's  eyes  wandered  restlessly,  and  he  sighed,  saying, 
"  Where  can  the  companies  be  ?  It  is  time  they  were  in  the 
city." 

So  his  anxiety  betrayed  itself. 

Then  Mualox  said,  grimly,  "Hope  not,  0  king.  The 
priests  and  caciques  go  to  death ;  the  army  would  but  swell 
the  flow  of  blood." 

1  Montezuma  clapped  his  hands,  and  drooped  his  head. 

"  Yet  more,"  said  Tecetl,  almost  immediately  ;  "  another 
crowd  comes  on,  a  band  reaching  far  down  the  street ;  they 
are  naked,  and  come  without  order,  bringing  — 

"The  tamanes"  said  Mualox,  without  looking  from  her  face, 

"  And  now,"  she  said,  "  the  city  begins  to  stir.     I  look, 

and  on  the  house-tops  and  temples  hosts  collect ;  from  all 

the  towers  the  smoke  goes  up  in  bluer  columns  :  yet  all  is 


THE  MASSACRE  IN  CHOLULA.  225 

still.  Those  who  carry  the  censers  come  near  the  gate  belpw 
me ;  now  they  are  within  it ;  the  plumed  train  follows  them, 
and  the  square  begins  to  fill.  Back  by  the  great  door,  on  one 
of  the  animals,  the  god  — 

"  Quetzal',"  muttered  Mualox. 

"  A  company,  glistening,  surrounds  him ;  his  face  seems 
whiter  than  before,  his  eyes  darker ;  a  shield  is  on  his  arm, 
white  plumes  toss  above  his  head.  The  censer-bearers  cross 
the  square,  and  the  air  thickens  with  a  sweet  perfume.  Now 
he  speaks  to  them ;  his  voice  is  harsh  and  high ;  they  are 
frightened;  some  kneel,  and  begin  to  pray  as  to  a  god; 
others  turn  and  start  quickly  for  the  gate." 

"  Take  lieed,  take  heed,  O  king ! "  said  Mualox,  his  eyes 
aflame. 

And  Montezuma  answered,  trembling  with  fear  and  rage, 
"  Has  Anahuac  no  gods  to  care  for  her  children  1 " 

"  What  can  they  against  the  Supreme  Quetzal'  1  It  is  a 
trial  of  power.  The  end  is  at  hand  !  " 

Never  man  spoke  more  confidently  than  the  paba. 

By  this  time  Tecetl's  face  was  flushed,  and  her  voice  faint. 
Mualox  filled  the  hollow  of  his  hand  with  water,  and  laved 
her  forehead.  And  she  sighed  wearily  and  continued,  — 

"  The  fair-faced  god  —  " 

"  Mark  the  words,  0  king,  —  mark  the  words  !  "  said  the. 
paba. 

"  The  fair-faced  god  quits  speaking ;  he  waves  his  hand, 
and  one  of  his  company  on  the  steps  of  the  temple  answers 
with  a  shout.  Lo  !  a  stream  of  fire,  and  a  noise  like  the  burst 
ing  of  a  cloud !  a  rising,  rolling  cloud  of  smoke  veils  tho 
whole  front  of  the  house.  How  the  smoke  thickens  !  Ho\v 
the  strangers  rush  into  the  square '  The  square  itself  trem 
bles  !  I  do  not  understand  it,  father  — 

"  It  is  battle  !  On,  child !  a  king  waits  to  see  a  god  in 
battle." 

10*  o 


226  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  In  my  pictures  there  is  nothing  like  this,  nor  have  you 
told  me  of  anything  like  it.  0,  it  is  fearful !  "  she  said. 
"  The  crowd  in  the  middle  of  the  square,  those  who  came 
from  the  city,  are  broken,  and  rush  here  and  there ;  at  the 
gates  they  are  beaten  back ;  some,  climbing  the  walls,  are 
struck  by  arrows,  and  fall  down  screaming.  Hark  !  how  they 
call  on  the  gods,  —  HuitziT,  Tezca',  Quetzal'.  And  why 
are  they  not  heard  ?  Where,  father,  where  is  the  good  Quet 
zal1?" 

Flashed  the  paba's  eyes  with  the  superhuman  light,  — 
other  answer  he  deigned  not ;  and  she  proceeded. 

"  What  a  change  has  come  over  the  square  !  Where  are 
they  that  awhile  ago  filled  it  with  white  robes  and  dancing 
plumes  1 " 

She  shuddered  visibly. 

"  I  look  again.  The  pavement  is  covered  with  heaps  of 
the  fallen,  and  among  them  I  see  some  with  plumes  and 
some  with  robes ;  even  the  censer-bearers  lie  still.  What  can 
it  mean  ?  And  all  the  time  the  horror  grows.  When  the 
thunder  and  fire  and  smoke  burst  from  near  the  temple- 
steps,  how  the  helpless  in  the  square  shriek  with  terror 
and  run  blindly  about !  How  many  are  torn  to  pieces ! 
Down  they  go  ;  I  cannot  count  them,  they  fall  so  fast,  and  in 
such  heaps  !  Then  —  ah,  the  pavement  looks  red !  0  father, 
it  is  blood  ! " 

She  stopped.  Montezuma  covered  his  face  with  his 
hands  ;  the  good  heart  that  so  loved  his  people  sickened 
at  their  slaughter. 

Again  Mualox  bathed  her  face.  Joy  flamed  in  his  eyes ; 
Quetzal'  was  consummating  his  vengeance,  and  confirming 
the  prophecies  of  his  servant. 

"  Go  on  ;  stay  not !  "  he  said,  sternly.  "  The  story  is  not 
told." 

"  Still  the  runm'ng  to  and  fro,  and  the  screaming ;  still 


THE  MASSACRE  IN  CHOLULA.  227 

the  fire  flashing,  and  the  smoke  rising,  and  the  hissing  of 
arrows  and  sound  of  blows  ;  still  the  prayers  to  HuitziT  !  " 
said  Tecetl.  "  I  look  down,  and  under  the  smoke,  which 
has  a  choking  smell,  I  see  the  fallen.  Eed  pools  gather  in 
the  hollow  places,  plumes  are  broken,  and  robes  are  no  longer 
white.  0,  the  piteous  looks  I  see,  the  moans  I  hear,  the 
many  faces,  brown  like  oak-leaves  faded,  turned  stilly  up  to 
the  sun ! " 

"  The  people  of  the  god,  —  tell  of  them,"  said  Mualox. 

"  I  search  for  them,  —  I  see  them  on  the  steps  and  out 
by  the  walls  and  the  gates.  They  are  all  in  their  places  yet ; 
not  one  of  them  is  down  ;  theirs  the  arrows,  and  the  fire  and 
thunder." 

"  Does  the  king  hear  ] "  asked  Mualox.  "  Only  the  pabas 
and  caciques  perish.  Who  may  presume  to  oppose  Quetzal'  ? 
Look  further,  child.  Tell  us  of  the  city." 

"  Gladly,  most  gladly  !  Now,  abroad  over  the  city.  The 
people  quit  the  house-tops ;  they  run  from  all  directions 
to  the  troubled  temple ;  they  crowd  the  streets ;  about 
the  gates,  where  the  gods  are,  they  struggle  to  get  into 
the  square,  and  the  air  thickens  with  their  arrows.  The 
god-" 

"  What  god  1 "  asked  Mualox. 

"  The  white-plumed  one." 

"  Quetzal' !     Go  on  !  " 

"  He  has  —  "     She  faltered. 

"  What  1 " 

"  In  my  pictures,  father,  there  is  nothing  like  them.  Fire 
leaps  from  their  mouths,  and  smoke,  and  the  air  and  earth 
tremble  when  they  speak ;  and  see  —  ah,  how  the  crowds  in 
the  streets  go  down  before  them  !  " 

Again  she  shuddered,  and  faltered. 

"  Hear,  0  king !  "  said  Mualox,  who  not  only  recognized 
the  cannon  of  the  Spaniards  in  the  description,  but  saw 


228  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

their  weight  at  that  moment  as  an  argument.  "  What  can 
the  slingers,  and  the  spearmen  of  Chinantla,  and  the  swords 
men  of  Teuochtitlan,  against  warriors  of  the  Sun,  with  their 
lightning  and  thunder  !  " 

And  he  looked  at  the  monarch,  sitting  with  his  face 
covered,  and  was  satisfied.  With  faculties  sharpened  by  a 
zeal  too  fervid  for  sympathy,  he  saw  the  fears  of  the  proud 
but  kindly  soul,  and  rejoiced  in  them.  Yet  he  permitted 
no  delay. 

"  Go  on,  child !  Look  for  the  fair-faced  god  ;  he  holds 
the  battle  in  his  hand." 

"  I  see  him,  —  I  see  his  white  plumes  nodding  in  a  group 
of  spears.  Now  he  is  at  the  main  gate  of  the  temple,  and 
speaks.  Hark  !  The  earth  is  shaken  by  another  roar,  — 
from  the  street  another  great  cry  ;  and  through  the  smoke, 
out  of  the  gate,  he  leads  his  band.  And  the  animals,  — 
what  shall  I  call  them  »" 

"  Tell  us  of  the  god  !  "  replied  the  enthusiast,  himself 
ignorant  of  the  name  and  nature  of  the  horse. 

"  Well,  well,  —  they  run  like  deer  ;  on  them  the  god  and 
his  comrades  plunge  into  the  masses  in  the  street ;  beating 
back  and  pursuing,  striking  with  their  spears,  and  trampling 
down  all  in  their  way.  Stones  and  arrows  are  flung  from 
the  houses,  but  they  avail  nothing.  The  god  shouts  joy 
ously,  he  plunges  on ;  and  the  blood  flows  faster  than 
before  ;  it  reddens  the  shields,  it  drips  from  the  spear- 
points  —  " 

"  Enough,  Mualox  !  "  said  Montezuma,  starting  from  his 
seat,  and  speaking  firmly.  "  I  want  no  more.  Guide  me 
hence  !  " 

The  paba  was  surprised ;  rising  slowly,  he  asked,  — 

"  Will  not  the  king  stay  to  the  end  1 " 

"  Stay  !  "  repeated  the  monarch,  with  curling  lip.  "  Aro 
my  people  of  Cholula  wolves  that  I  should  be  glad  at  theii 


THE  MASSACRE  IN  CHOLULA.  229 

slaughter  1  It  is  murder,  massacro,  not  battle  !  Show  me 
to  the  roof  again.  Come  !  " 

Mualox  turned  to  Tecetl  \  touching  her  hand,  he  found 
it  cold  ;  the  sunken  eyes,  and  the  lips,  vermeil  no  longer, 
admonished  him  of  the  delicacy  of  her  spirit  and  body. 
He  filled  a  vase  at  the  fountain,  and  laved  her  face,  the 
while  soothingly  repeating,  "  Tecetl,  Tecetl,  child  !  "  Some 
minutes  were  thus  devoted  ;  then  kissing  her,  and  replacing 
the  hand  tenderly  in  the  other  lying  in  her  lap,  he  said  to 
the  monarch,  — 

"  Until  to-day,  0  king,  this  sacredness  has  been  sealed 
from  the  generations  that  forsook  the  religion  of  Quetzal'. 
Eye  of  mocker  has  not  seen,  nor  foot  of  unbeliever  trod 
this  purlieu,  the  last  to  receive  his  blessing.  You  alone  — 
I  am  of  the  god  —  you  alone  can  go  abroad  knowing  what 
is  here.  Never  before  were  you  so  nearly  face  to  face  with 
the  Ruler  of  the  Winds  !  And  now,  with  what  force  a  ser 
vant  may,  I  charge  .you,  by  the  glory  of  the  Sun,  respect 
this  house ;  and  when  you  think  of  it,  or  of  what  here  you 
have  seen,  be  it  as  friend,  lover,  and  worshipper.  If  the 
king  will  follow  me,  I  am  ready." 

"  I  am  neither  mocker  nor  unbeliever.  Lead  on,"  replied 
Montezuma. 

And  after  that,  the  king  paid  no  attention  to  the  chamber ; 
he  moved  along  the  aisles  too  unhappy  to  be  curious.  The 
twenty  thousand  warriors  had  not  been  mentioned  by  Tecetl ; 
they  had  not,  it  would  seem,  entered  the  city  or  the  battle, 
so  there  was  a  chance  of  the  victory ;  yet  was  he  hopeless, 
for  never  a  doubt  had  he  of  her  story.  Wherefore,  his  lamen 
tation  was  twofold,  —  for  his  people  and  for  himself. 

And  Mualox  was  silent  as  the  king,  though  for  a  different 
cause.  To  him,  suddenly,  the  object  of  his  life  put  on  the 
garb  of  quick  possibility.  Quetzal',  he  was  sure,  would  fill 
the  streets  of  Cholula  with  the  dead,  and  crown  his  wrath 


230  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


amid  the  ruins  of  the  city.  In  the  face  of  example  so 
dreadful,  none  would  dare  oppose  him,  not  even  Montezuma, 
whose  pride  broken  was  next  to  his  faith  gained.  And 
around  the  new-born  hope,  as  cherubs  around  the  Madonna, 
rustled  the  wings  of  fancies  most  exalted.  He  saw  the  su 
premacy  of  Quetzal'  acknowledged  above  all  others,  the 
Cft  restored  to  its  first  glory,  and  the  silent  cells  repeopled. 
O  happy  day  !  Already  he  heard  the  court-yard  resounding 
with  solemn  chants  as  of  old  ;  and  before  the  altar,  in  the 
presence-chamber,  from  morn  till  night  he  stood,  receiving 
offerings,  and  dispensing  blessings  to  the  worshippers  who, 
with  a  faith  equal  to  his  own,  believed  the  ancient  image  the 
ONE  SUPREME  GOD. 

At  the  head  of  the  eastern  steps  of  the  temple,  as  the 
king  began  the  descent,  the  holy  man  knelt,  and  said,  — 

"  For  peace  to  his  people  let  the  wise  Montezuma  look  to 
Quetzal'.  Mualox  gives  him  his  blessing.  Farewell." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  CONQUEROR  WILL  COME. 

A  FEW  weeks  more,  —  weeks  of  pain,  vacillation,  em- 
_/_A_  bassies,  and  distracted  councils  to  Montezuma  ;  of 
doubt  and  anxiety  to  the  nobles ;  of  sacrifice  and  cere 
monies  by  the  priests ;  of  fear  and  wonder  to  the  people. 
In  that  time,  if  never  before,  the  Spaniards  became  the  one 
subject  of  discourse  throughout  Anahuac.  In  the  tianguez, 
merchants  bargaining  paused  to  interchange  opinions  about 
them ;  craftsmen  in  the  shops  entertained  and  frightened 
each  other  with  stories  of  their  marvellous  strength  and 
ferocity ;  porters,  bending  under  burdens,  speculated  on 


THE  CONQUEROR  WILL  COME.  231 

their  character  and  mission ;  and  never  a  waterman  passed 
an  acquaintance  on  the  lake,  without  lingering  awhile  to  ask 
or  give  the  latest  news  from  the  Holy  City,  which,  with  the 
best  grace  it  could,  still  entertained  its  scourgers. 

What  Malinche  —  for  "by  that  name  Cortes  was  now 
universally  known  —  would  do  was  the  first  conjecture ; 
what  the  great  king  intended  was  the  next. 

As  a  matter  of  policy,  the  dismal  massacre  in  Cholula 
accomplished  all  Cortes  proposed ;  it  made  him  a  national 
terror ;  it  smoothed  the  causeway  for  his  march,  and  held 
the  gates  of  Xoloc  open  for  peaceful  entry  into  Tenoch- 
titlan.  Yet  the  question  on  the  many  tongues  was,  "Would 
he  come  1 

And  he  himself  answered.  One  day  a  courier  ran  up  the 
great  street  of  Tenochtitlan  to  the  king's  palace ;  imme 
diately  the  portal  was  thronged  by  anxious  citizens.  That 
morning  Malinche  began  his  march  to  the  capital,  —  he  was 
coming,  was  actually  on  the  way.  The  thousands  trem 
bled  as  they  heard  the  news. 

After  that  the  city  was  not  an  hour  without  messengers 
reporting  the  progress  of  the  Spaniards,  whose  every  step 
and  halt  and  camping-place  was  watched  with  the  distrust  of 
fear  and  the  sleeplessness  of  jealousy.  The  horsemen  and 
footmen  were  all  numbered ;  the  personal  appearance  of  each 
leader  was  painted  over  and  over  again  with  brush  and 
tongue;  the  devices  on  the  shields  and  pennons  were  de 
scribed  with  heraldic  accuracy.  And  though,  from  long 
service  and  constant  exposure  and  repeated  battles,  the 
equipments  of  the  adventurers  had  lost  the  freshness 
that  belonged  to  them  the  day  of  the  departure  from 
Cuba ;  though  plumes  and  scarfs  were  stained,  and  casques 
and  breastplates  tarnished,  and  good  steeds  tamed  by  strange 
fare  and  wearisome  marches,  nevertheless  the  accounts  that 
went  abroad  concerning  them  were  sufficiently  splendid 


232  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


and  terrible  to  confirm  the  prophecies  by  which  they  were 
preceded. 

And  the  people,  made  swift  by  alarm  and  curiosity,  out 
marched  Cortes  many  days.  Before  he  reached  Iztapalapan, 
the  capital  was  full  of  them  ;  in  multitudes,  lords  and  slaves, 
men,  women,  and  children,  like  Jews  to  the  Passover,  scaled 
the  mountains,  and  hurried  through  the  valley  and  across 
the  lakes.  Better  opportunity  to  study  the  characteristics  of 
the  tribes  was  never  afforded. 

All  day  and  night  the  public  resorts  —  streets,  houses, 
temples  - —  were  burdened  with  the  multitude,  whose  fear, 
as  the  hour  of  entry  drew  nigh,  yielded  to  their  curiosity. 
And  when,  at  last,  the  road  the  visitors  would  come  by  was 
settled,  the  whole  city  seemed  to  breathe  easier.  From  the 
village  of  Iscalpan,  so  ran  the  word,  they  had  boldly  plunged 
into  the  passes  of  the  Sierra,  and  thence  taken  the  directest 
route  by  way  of  Tlalmanalco.  And  now  they  were  at 
Ayotzinco,  a  town  on  the  eastern  shore  of  lake  Tezcuco ; 
to-morrow  they  would  reach  Iztapalapan,  and  then  Tenoch- 
titlan.  Not  a  long  time  to  wait,  if  they  brought  the  ven 
geance  of  Quetzal' ;  yet  thousands  took  canoes,  and  crossed 
to  the  village,  and,  catcliing  the  first  view,  hurried  back,  each 
with  a  fancy  more  than  ever  inflamed. 

A  soldier,  sauntering  down  the  street,  is  beset  with  citi 
zens. 

"  A  pleasant  day,  0  son  of  Iluitzil' !  " 

"  A  pleasant  day ;  may  all  that  shine  on  Tenochtitlan 
be  like  it ! "  he  answers. 

"What  news?" 

"  I  have  been  to  the  temple." 

"  And  what  says  the  teotuctli  now  1 " 

"  Nothing.  There  are  no  signs.  Like  the  stars,  the  hearts 
of  the  victims  will  not  answer." 

"  What !     Did  not  Huitzil'  speak  last  night  ? " 


THE  CONQUEROR  WILL  COME.  233 

"  O  yes  ! "  And  the  warrior  smiles  with  satisfaction. 
"  Last  night  he  bade  the  priests  tell  the  king  not  to  oppose 
the  entry  of  Malinche." 

"  Then  what «  " 

"  Why,  here  in  the  city  he  would  cut  the  strangers  off  to 
the  last  one." 

And  all  the  citizens  cry  in  chorus,  "  Praised  be  Huitzil' ! '' 

Farther  on  the  warrior  overtakes  a  comrade  in  arms. 

"  Are  we  to  take  our  shields  to  the  field,  O  my  brother  1 " 
he  asks. 

"  All  is  peaceful  yet,  —  nothing  but  embassies." 

"  Is  it  true  that  the  lord  Cacama  is  to  go  in  state,  and  in 
vite  Malinche  to  Tenochtitlan  ?  " 

"  He  sets  out  to-day." 

"  Ha,  ha !  Of  all  voices  for  war,  his  was  the  loudest. 
"Where  caught  he  the  merchant's  cry  for  peace  1 " 

"  In  the  temples  ;  it  may  be  from  Huitzil'." 

The  answer  is  given  in  a  low  voice,  and  with  an  ironic 
laugh. 

"  Well,  well,  comrade,  there  are  but  two  lords  fit,  in  time 
like  this,  for  the  love  of  warriors,  —  Cuitlahua  and  Guata- 
mozin.  They  still  talk  of  war." 

"  Cuitlahua,  Cuitlahua !  "  And  the  laugh  rises  to  boisterous 
contempt.  "  Why,  he  has  consented  to  receive  Malinche  in 
Iztapalapan,  and  entertain  him  with  a  banquet  in  his  palace. 
He  has  gone  for  that  purpose  now.  The  lord  of  Cojohuaca 
is  with  him." 

"  Then  we  have  only  the  'tzin  ! " 

The  fellow  sighs  like  one  sincerely  grieved. 

"  Only  the  'tzin,  brother,  only  the  'tzin  !  and  he  is  ban 
ished  ! " 

They  shake  their  heads,  and  look  what  they  dare  not 
speak,  and  go  their  ways.  The  gloom  they  take  with  them 
is  a  sample  of  that  which  rests  over  the  whole  valley 


234  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


When  the  Spaniards  reached  Iztapalapan,  the  excitement 
in  the  capital  became  irrepressible.  The  cities  were  but 
an  easy  march  apart,  most  of  it  along  the  causeway.  The 
going  and  coming  may  be  imagined.  The  miles  of  dike 
were  covered  by  a  continuous  procession,  while  the  lake,  in' 
a  broad  line  from  town  to  town,  was  darkened  by  canoes. 
Cortes'  progress  through  the  streets  of  Iztapalapan  was 
antitypical  of  the  grander  reception  awaiting  liiin  in  Te- 
nochtitlan. 

In  the  latter  city  there  was  no  sleep  that  night.  The  tian- 
guez  in  particular  was  densely  filled,  not  by  traders,  but  by 
a  mass  of  newsmongers,  who  hardly  knew  whether  they 
were  most  pleased  or  alarmed.  The  general  neglect  of  busi 
ness  had  exceptions ;  at  least  one  portico  shone  with  un 
usual  brilliancy  till  morning.  Every  great  merchant  is  a 
philosopher ;  in  the  midst  of  calamities,  he  is  serene,  because 
it  is  profit's  time ;  before  the  famine,  he  buys  up  all  the  corn ; 
in  forethought  of  pestilence,  he  secures  all  the  medicine : 
and  the  world,  counting  his  gains,  says  delightedly,  What  a 
wise  man !  I  will  not  say  the  Chalcan  was  of  that  honored 
class ;  he  thought  himself  a  benefactor,  and  was  happy  to 
accommodate  the  lords,  and  help  them  divide  their  time 
between  his  palace  and  that  of  the  king.  It  is  hardly  neces 
sary  to  add,  that  his  apartments  were  well  patronized, 
though,  in  truth,  his  pulque  was  in  greater  demand  than 
his  choclatl. 

The  drinking-chamber,  about  the  close  of  the  third  quar 
ter  of  the  night,  presented  a  lively  picture.  For  the  con 
venience  of  the  many  patrons,  tables  from  other  rooms  had 
been  brought  in.  Some  of  the  older  lords  -were  far  gone  in 
intoxication ;  slaves  darted  to  and  fro,  removing  goblets,  or 
bringing  them  back  replenished.  A  few  minstrels  found  lis 
teners  among  those  who  happened  to  be  too  stupid  to  talk, 
though  not  too  sleepy  to  drink.  Every  little  while  a  new- 


THE  CONQUEROR  WILL  COME.  235 

comer  would  enter,  when,  if  he  were  from  Iztapalapan,  a 
crowd  would  surround  him,  allowing  neither  rest  nor  refresh 
ment  until  he  had  told  the  things  he  had  seen  or  heard. 
Amongst  others,  Hualpa  and  Io'  chanced  to  find  their  way 
thither.  Maxtla,  seated  at  a  table  with  some  friends,  in 
cluding  the  Chalcan,  called  them  to  him ;  and,  as  they  had 
attended  the  banquet  of  the  lord  Cuitlahua,  they  were 
quickly  provided  with  seats,  goblets,  and  an  audience  of 
eager  listeners. 

"  Certainly,  my  good  chief,  I  have  seen  Malinche,  and 
passed  the  afternoon  looking  at  him  and  his  people,"  said 
Hualpa  to  Maxtla.  "  It  may  be  that  I  am  too  much  influ 
enced  by  the  'tzin  to  judge  them ;  but,  if  they  are  teules,  so 
are  we.  1  longed  to  try  my  javelin  on  them." 

"  Was  their  behavior  unseemly  ]  " 

"  Call  it  as  you  please.  I  was  in  the  train  when,  after  the 
banquet,  the  lord  Cuitlahua  took  them  to  see  his  gardens. 
As  they  strode  the  walks,  and  snuffed  the  flowers,  and 
plucked  the  fruit ;  as  they  moved  along  the  canal  with 
its  lining  of  stone,  and  stopped  to  drink  at  the  fountains,  — 
I  was  made  feel  that  they  thought  everything,  not  merely  my 
lord's  property,  but  my  lord  himself,  belonged  to  them  ;  they 
said  as  much  by  their  looks  and  actions,  by  their  insolent 
swagger." 

"  Was  the  'tzin  there  ?  " 

"  From  the  azoteas  of  a  temple  he  saw  them  enter  the  city  ; 
but  he  was  not  at  the  banquet.  I  heard  a  story  showing 
how  he  would  treat  the  strangers,  if  he  had  the  power.  One 
of  their  priests,  out  with  a  party,  came  to  the  temple  where 
he  happened  to  be,  and  went  up  to  the  tower.  In  the  sanc- 
tiiary  one  of  them  raised  his  spear  and  struck  the  image  of  the 
god.  The  pabas  threw  up  their  hands  and  shrieked ;  he 
rushed  upon  the  impious  wretch,  and  carried  him  to  the  sacri 
ficial  stone,  stretched  him  out,  and  called  to  the  pabas, 


236  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Come,  the  victim  is  ready  !  "  "When  the  other  teules 
would  have  attacked  him,  he  offered  to  fight  them  all.  The 
strange  priest  interfered,  and  they  departed/' 

The  applause  of  the  bystanders  was  loud  and  protracted  ; 
when  it  had  somewhat  abated,  Xoli,  whose  thoughts,  from 
habit,  ran  chiefly  upon  the  edibles,  said,  — 

"  My  lord  Cuitlahua  is  a  giver  of  good  suppers.  Pray, 
tell  us  about  the  courses  — : 

"  Peace !  be  still,  Chalcan ! "  cried  Maxtla,  angrily. 
"  What  care  we  whether  Malinche  ate  wolf -meat  or 
quail?" 

Xoli  bowed  ;  the  lords  laughed. 

Then  a  gray-haired  cacique  behind  Io'  asked,  "  Tell  us 
rather  what  Malinche  said." 

Hualpa  shook  his  head.  "  The  conversation  was  tedious. 
Everything  was  said  through  an  interpreter,  —  a  woman 
born  in  the  province  Painalla ;  so  I  paid  little  attention.  I 
recollect,  however,  he  asked  many  questions  about  the  great 
king,  and  about  the  Empire,  and  Tenochtitlan.  He  said  his 
master,  the  governor  of  the  universe,  had  sent  him  here.  He 
gave  much  time,  also,  to  explaining  his  religion.  I  might 
have  understood  him,  uncle,  but  my  ears  were  too  full  of  the 
rattle  of  arms." 

"  What !     Sat  they  at  the  table  armed  1 ''  asked  Maxtla. 

"  Ail  of  them ;  even  Malinche." 

"  That  was  not  the  worst,"  said  Io',  earnestly.  "  At  the 
same  table  my  lord  Cuitlahua  entertained  a  band  of  beg 
garly  Tlascalan  chiefs.  Sooner  should  iny  tongue  have  been 
torn  out ! " 

The  bystanders  made  haste  to  approve  the  sentiment,  and 
for  a  time  it  diverted  the  conversation.  Meanwliile,  at  Hual- 
•pa's  order,  the  goblets  were  refilled. 

"  Dares  the  noble  Maxtla,"  he  then  asked,  "  tell  what  the 
king  will  do  ] " 


THE  CONQUEROR  WILL  COME.  237 

"  The  question  is  very  broad."  And  the  chief  smiled. 
"  What  special  information  does  my  comrade  seek  1 " 

"  Can  you  tell  us  when  Malinche  will  enter  Tenochtit- 
lan  1 " 

"  Certainly.  Xoli  published  that  in  the  tiangiicz  before 
the  sun  was  up." 

"  To  be  sure,"  answered  the  Chalcan.  "  The  lord  Maxtla 
knows  the  news  cost  me  a  bowl  of  pulque" 

There  was  much  laughter,  in  which  the  chief  joined.  Then 
he  said,  gravely,  — 

"  The  king  has  arranged  everything.  As  advised  by  the 
gods,  Malinche  enters  Tenochtitlan  day  after  to-morrow.  He 
will  leave  Iztapalapan  at  sunrise,  and  march  to  the  causeway 
by  the  lake  shore.  Cuitlahua,  with  Cacama,  the  lord  of 
Tecuba,  and  others  of  like  importance,  will  meet  him.  at 
Xoloc.  The  king  will  follow  them  in  state.  As  to  the  pro 
cession,  I  will  only  say  it  were  ill  to  lose^  the  sight.  Such 
splendor  was  never  seen  on  the  causeway." 

Ordinarily  the  mention  of  such  a  prospect  would  have 
kindled  the  liveliest  enthusiasm  ;  for  the  Aztecs  were  lovers 
of  spectacles,  and  never  so  glad  as  when  the  great  green  ban 
ner  of  the  Empire  was  brought  forth  to  shed  its  solemn 
beauty  over  the  legions,  and  along  the  storied  street  of  Te 
nochtitlan.  Much,  therefore,  was  Maxtla  surprised  at  the  cold 
ness  that  fell  upon  the  company. 

"  Ho,  friends  !  One  would  think  the  reception  not  much 
to  your  liking,"  he  said. 

"  We  are  the  king's,  —  dust  under  his  feet,  —  and  it  is  not 
for  us  to  murmur,"  said  a  sturdy  cacique,  first  to  break  the 
disagreeable  silence.  "  Yet  our  fathers  gave  their  enemies 
bolts  instead  of  banquets." 

"  Who  may  disobey  the  gods  1 "  asked  Maxtla. 

The  argument  was  not  more  sententious  than  unanswer' 
able. 


238  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Well,  well !  "  said  Hualpa.  "  I  will  get  ready.  Advise 
me,  good  chief :  had  I  better  take  a  caiioe  1 " 

"  The  procession  will  doubtless  be  better  seen  from  the 
lake ;  but  to  hear  what  passes  between  the  king  and  Ma- 
linche,  you  should  be  in  the  train.  By  the  way,  will  the 
'tzin  be  present  1 " 

"  As  the  king  may  order,"  replied  Hualpa. 

Maxtla  threw  back  his  look,  and  said  with  enthusiasm, 
real  or  aifected,  "  Much  would  I  like  to  see  and  hear  him 
when  the  Tlascalans  come  flying  their  banners  into  the  city  ! 
How  he  will  flame  with  wrath  !  " 

Then  Hualpa  considerately  changed  the  direction  of  the 
discourse. 

"  Malinche  will  be  a  troublesome  guest,  if  only  from  the 
number  of  his  following.  Will  he  be  lodged  in  one  of  the 
temples  1 " 

"  A  temple,  indeed  !  "  And  Maxtla  laughed  scornfully.  "A 
temple  would  be  fitter  lodging  for  the  gods  of  Mictlan  !  At 
Cempoalla,  you  recollect,  the  teules  threw  down  the  sacred 
gods,  and  butchered  the  pabas  at  the  altars.  Lest  they 
should  desecrate  a  holy  house  here,  they  are  assigned  to  the 
old  palace  of  Axaya'.  To-morrow  the  tamanes  will  put  it 
in  order." 

Io'  then  asked,  "  Is  it  known  how  long  they  will  stay  1 " 

Maxtla  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  drank  his  pulque. 

"Hist!"  whistled  a  cacique.  "That  is  what  the  king 
would  give  half  his  kingdom  to  know  !  " 

"  And  why  ? "  asked  the  boy,  reddening.  "  Is  he  not 
master  ?  Does  it  not  depend  upon  him  1 " 

"  It  depends  upon  no  other  ! "  cried  Maxtla,  dashing  his 
palm  upon  the  table  until  the  goblets  danced.  "  By  the 
holy  gods,  he  has  but  to  speak  the  word,  and  these  guests 
will  turn  to  victims  !  " 

And  Hualpa,  surprised  at  the  display  of  spirit,  seconded 


MONTEZUMA  GOES  TO  MEET  CORTES.  239 

the  chief  :  "  Brave  words,  0  my  lord  Maxtla  !  They  give 
us  hope." 

"  He  will  treat  them  graciously,"  Maxtla  continued,  "  he- 
cause  they  come  hy  his  request ;  but  when  he  tells  them  to 
depart,  if  they  ohey  not,  —  if  they  ohey  not,  — when  was 
his  vengeance  other  than  a  king's  1  Who  dares  say  he  can 
not,  by  a  word,  end  this  visit  ? " 

"  No  one  !  "  cried  Io'. 

"  Ay,  no  one !  But  the  goblets  are  empty.  See  !  Io', 
good  prince,"  —  and  Maxtla's  voice  changed  at  once,  — 
"would  another  draught  be  too  much  for  us1?  We  drink 
slowly ;  one  more,  only  one.  And  while  we  drink,  we  will 
forget  Malinche." 

"  Would  that  were  possible  !  "  sighed  the  boy. 

They  -sent  up  the  goblets,  and  continued  the  session  until 
daylight. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

MONTEZUMA  GOES  TO  MEET  CORTES. 

• 

CAME  the  eighth  of  November,  which  no  Spaniard, 
himself  a  Conquistador,  can  ever  forget ;  that  day 
Cortes  entered  Tenochtitlan. 

The  morning  dawned  over  Anahuac  as  sometimes  it  dawns 
over  the  Bay  of  Naples,  bringing  an  azure  haze  in  which 
the  world  seemed  set  afloat. 

"  Look  you,  uncles,"  said  Montezuma,  yet  at  breakfast,  and 
speaking  to  his  councillors  :  "  they  are  to  go  before  me, 
my  heralds  ;  and  as  Malinche  is  the  servant  of  a  king,  and 
used  to  courtly  styles,  I  would  not  have  them  shame  me. 
Admit  them  with  the  nequen  off.  As  they  will  appear  before 
him,  let  theui  come  to  me." 


240  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


And  thereupon  four  nobles  were  ushered  in,  full-armed, 
even  to  the  shield.  Their  helms  were  of  glittering  silver ; 
their  escaupiles,  or  tunics  of  quilted  mail,  were  stained  vivid 
green,  and  at  the  neck  and  borders  sparkled  with  pearls ;  over 
their  shoulders  hung  graceful  mantles  of  plumaje,  softer  than 
cramoisy  velvet ;  upon  their  breasts  blazed  decorations  and 
military  insignia  ;  from  wrist  to  elbow,  and  from  knee  to 
sandal-strap,  their  arms  and  legs  were  sheathed  in  scales  of 
gold.  And  so,  ready  for  peaceful  show  or  mortal  combat,  — 
his  heroes  and  ambassadors,  —  they  bided  the  monarch's 
careful  review. 

"  Health  to  you,  my  brothers  !  and  to  you,  my  children !  " 
he  said,  with  satisfaction.  "  What  of  the  morning  ?  How 
looks  the  sun  ? " 

"  Like  the  beginning  of  a  great  day,  0  king,  which  we 
pray  may  end  happily  for  you,"  replied  Cuitlahua. 

"  It  is  the  work  of  Huitzil' ;  doubt  not !  I  have  called 
you,  0  my  children,  to  see  how  well  my  fame  will  be  main 
tained.  I  wish  to  show  Malinche  a  power  and  beauty  such 
as  he  has  never  seen,  unless  he  come  from  the  Sun  itself. 
Earth  has  but  one  valley  of  Anahuac,  one  city  of  Tenoch- 
titlan  :  so  he  shall  acknowledge.  Have  you  directed  his 
march  as  I  ordered  1 " 

And  Cacama  replied,  "  Through  the  towns  and  gardens, 
he  is  to  follow  the  shore  of  the  lake  to  the  great  causeway. 
By  this  time  he  is  on  the  road." 

Then  Montezuma's  face  flushed  ;  and,  lifting  his  head  as  it 
were  to  look  at  objects  afar  off,  he  said  aloud,  yet  like  one 
talking  to  himself,  — 

"  He  is  a  lover  of  gold,  and  has  been  heard  speak  of  cities 
and  temples  and  armies  ;  of  his  people  numberless  as  the 
sands.  0,  if  he  be  a  man,  with  human  weaknesses,  —  if  he 
has  hope,  or  folly  of  thought,  to  make  him  less  than  a  god,  — 
ere  the  night  fall  he  shall  give  me  reverence.  Sign  of  my 


MONTEZUMA  GOES  TO   MEET  CORTES. 


power  shall  he  find  at  every  step  :  cities  built  upon  the 
waves  ;  temples  solid  aiftl  high  as  the  hills ;  the  lake  covered 
with  canoes  and  gardens  ;  people  at  his  feet,  like  stalks  in 
the  meadow  ;  my  warriors  ;  and  Tenochtitlan,  city  of  empire  ! 
And  then,  if  he  greet  me  with  hope  or  thought  of  conquest, 
—  then  —  "  He  shuddered. 

"  And  then  what  1 "  said  Cuitlahua,  upon  whom  not  a 
word  had  been  lost. 

The  thinker,  startled,  looked  at  him  coldly,  saying,  — 

"  I  will  take  council  of  the  gods." 

And  for  a  while  he  returned  to  his  choclatl.  When  next 
he  looked  up,  and  spoke,  his  face  was  bright  and  smiling. 

"  With  a  train,  my  children,  you  are  to  go  in  advance  of 
me,  and  meet  Malinche  at  Xoloc.  Embrace  him,  speak  to 
him  honorably,  return  with  him,  and  I  will  be  at  the  first 
bridge  outside  the  city.  Cuitlahua  and  Cacapaa,  be  near 
when  he  steps  forward  to  salute  me.  I  will  lean  upon  your 
shoulders.  Get  you  gone  now.  Remember  Anahuac  !  " 

Shortly  afterward  a  train  of  nobles,  magnificently  ar 
rayed,  issued  from  the  palace,  and  marched  down  the  great 
street  leading  to  the  Iztapalapan  causeway.  The  house-tops, 
the  porticos,  even  the  roofs  and  towers.of  temples,  and  the 
pavements  and  cross-streets,  were  already  occupied  by  spec 
tators.  At  the  head  of  the  procession  strode  the  four 
heralds.  Silently  they  marched,  in  silence  the  populace  re 
ceived  them.  The  spectacle  reminded  very  old  men  of  the 
day  the  great  Axaya'  was  borne  in  mournful  pomp  to  Cha- 
pultepec.  Once  only  there  was  a  cheer,  or,  rather,  a  war-cry 
from  the  warriors  looking  down  from  the  terraces  of  a 
temple.  So  the  cortege  passed  from  the  city ;  so,  through  a 
continuous  lane  of  men,  they  moved  along  the  causeway  ;  so 
they  reached  the  .gates  of  Xoloc,  at  which  the  two  dikes, 
one  from  Iztapalapan,  the  other  from  Cojohuaca,  intersected 
each  other.  There  they  halted,  waiting  for  Cortes. 
11  p 


242  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

And  while  the  train  was  on  the  road,  out  of  on&  of  the 
gates  of  the  royal  garden  passed  a  palanquin,  borne  by  four 
slaves  in  the  king's  livery.  The  occupants  were  the  prin 
cesses  Tula  and  Nenetzin,  with  Yeteve  in  attendance.  In 
any  of  the  towns  of  old  Spain  there  would  have  been  much 
remark  upon  the  style  of  carriage,  but  no  denial  of  their 
beauty,  or  that  they  were  Spanish  born.  The  elder  sister 
was  thoughtful  and  anxious ;  the  younger  kept  constant 
lookout ;  the  priestess,  at  their  feet,  wove  the  flowers  with 
which  they  were  profusely  supplied  into  ramilletes,  and 
threw  them  to  the  passers-by.  The  slaves,  when  in  the 
great  street,  turned  to  the  north. 

"  Blessed  Lady ! "  cried  Yeteve.  "  Was  the  like  ever 
seen?" 

"  What  is  it?"  asked  Nenetzin. 

"  Such  a  crowd  of  people  !  " 

Nenetzin  looked  out  again,  saying,  "  I  wish  I  could  see  a 
noble  or  a  warrior." 

"  That  may  not  be,"  said  Tula.  "  The  nobles  are  gone 
to  receive  Malinche,  the  warriors  are  shut  up  in  the  tem 
ples." 

"Why  so?" 

"  They  may  be  needed." 

"  Ah  !  was  it  thought  there  is  such  danger  1  But  look, 
see  !  "  And  Kenetzin  drew  back  alarmed,  yet  laughing. 

There  was  a  crash  outside,  and  a  loud  shout,  and  the 
palanquin  stopped.  Tula  drew  the  curtain  quickly,  not 
knowing  but  that  the  peril  requiring  the  soldiery  was  at 
hand.  A  vendor  of  little  stone  images,  —  teotls,  or  house 
hold  gods,  —  unable  to  get  out  of  the  way,  had  been  run  upon 
by  the  slaves,  and  the  pavement  sprinkled  with  the  broken 
heads  and  legs  of  the  luckless  lares.  Aside,  surveying  the 
wreck,  stood  the  pedler,  clad  as  usual  with  his  class.  In 
his  girdle  he  carried  a  mallet,  significant  of  his  trade.  He 


MONTEZUMA  GOES  TO  MEET  CORTES.  243 

was  uncommonly  tall,  and  of  a  complexion  darker  than  the 
lowest  slaves.  While  the  commiserate  princess  observed 
him,  he  raised  his  eyes ;  a  moment  he  stood  uncertain  what 
to  do ;  then  he  stepped  to  the  palanquin,  and  from  the  folds 
of  his  tunic  drew  an  image  elaborately  carved  upon  the  face 
of  an  agate. 

"  The  good  princess,"  he  said,  bending  so  low  as  to  hide 
his  face,  "  did  not  laugh  at  the  misfortune  of  her  poor 
slave.  She  has  a  friendly  heart,  and  is  loved  by  every 
artisan  in  Tenochtitlan.  This  carving  is  of  a  sacred  god, 
who  will  watch  over  and  bless  her,  as  I  now  do.  If  she 
will  take  it,  I  shall  be  glad." 

"  It  is  very  valuable,  and  maybe  you  are  not  rich,"  she 
replied. 

"  Rich  !  When  it  is  told  that  the  princess  Tula  was 
pleased  with  a  teotl  of  my  carving,  I  shall  have  patrons  with 
out  end.  And  if  it  were  not  so,  the  recollection  will  make 
me  rich  enough.  Will  she  please  me  so  much  1 " 

She  took  from  her  finger  a  ring  set  with  a  jewel  that,  in 
any  city  of  Europe,  would  have  bought  fifty  such  cameos, 
and  handed  it  to  him. 

"  Certainly ;  but  take  this  from  me.  I  warrant  you  are  a 
gentle  artist." 

The  pedler  took  the  gift,  and  kissed  the  pavement,  and, 
after  the  palanquin  was  gone,  picked  up  such  of  his  wares 
as  were  uninjured,  and  went  his  way  well  pleased. 

At  the  gate  of  the  temple  of  Huitzil'  the  three  alighted, 
and  made  their  way  to  the  azoteas.  The  lofty  place  was 
occupied  by  pabas  and  citizens,  yet  a  sun-shade  of  gaudy 
feather-work  was  pitched  for  them  close  by  the  eastern 
verge,  overlooking  the  palace  of  Axaya',  and  commanding  the 
street  up  which  the  array  was  to  come.  In  the  area  below, 
encompassed  by  the  Coatapantli,  or  Wall  of  Serpents,  ten 
thousand  warriors  were  closely  ranked,  ready  to  march  at 


244  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


beat  of  the  great  drum  hanging  in  the  tower.  Thus,  com 
fortably  situated,  the  daughters  of  the  king  awaited  the 
strangers. 

When  Montezuma  started  to  meet  his  guests,  the  morning 
was  far  advanced.  A  vast  audience,  in  front  of  his  palace, 
waited  to  catch  a  view  of  his  person.  Of  his  policy  the 
mass  knew  but  the  little  gleaned  from  a  thousand  rumors, 
—  enough  to  fill  them  with  forebodings  of  evil.  "Was  he 
going  out  as  king  or  slave  1  At  last  he  came,  looking  their 
ideal  of  a  child  of  the  Sun,  and  ready  for  the  scrutiny.  Stand 
ing  in  the  portal,  he  received  their  homage ;  not  one  but 
kissed  the  ground  before  him. 

He  stepped  out,  and  the  sun,  as  if  acknowledging  his 
presence,  seemed  to  pour  a  double  glory  about  him.  In  the 
time  of  .despair  and  overthrow  that  came,  alas  !  too  soon, 
those  who  saw  him,  in  that  moment  of  pride,  spread  his 
arms  in  general  benediction,  remembered  his  princeliness, 
and  spoke  of  him  ever  after  in  the  language  of  poetry.  The 
iilmalli,  looped  at  the  throat,  and  falling  gracefully  from  his 
shoulders,  was  beaded  with  jewels  and  precious  stones  ;  the 
long,  dark-green  plumes  in  his  panac/ie  drooped  with  pearls  ; 
his  sash  was  in  keeping  with  the  mantle  ;  the  thongs  of  his 
sandals  were  edged  with  gold,  and  the  soles  were  entirely  of 
gold.  Upon  his  breast,  relieved  against  the  rich  embroidery 
of  his  tunic,  symbols  of  the  military  orders  of  the  realm 
literally  blazed  with  gems. 

About  the  royal  palanquin,  in  front  of  the  portal,  bare 
headed  arid  barefooted,  stood  its  complement  of  bearers,  lords 
of  the  first  rank,  proud  of  the  service.  Between  the  car 
riage  and  the  doorway  a  carpet  of  white  cloth  was  stretched  : 
common  dust  might  not  soil  his  feet.  As  he  stepped  out, 
he  was  saluted  by  a  roar  of  attabals  and  conch-shells.  The 
music  warmed  his  blood  ;  the  homage  was  agreeable  to  him,  — 
was  to  his  soul  what  incense  is  to  the  gods.  He  gazed  proud- 


MONTEZUMA   GOES  TO   MEET   CORTES.  245 

ly  around,  and  it  was  easy  to  see  how  much,  he  was  in  love 
with  his  own  royalty. 

Taking  his  place  in  the  palanquin,  the  cortege  moved 
slowly  down  the  street.  In  advance  walked  stately  caciques 
with  wands,  clearing  the  way.  The  carriers  of  the  canopy, 
which  was  separate  from  the  carriage,  followed  next ;  and 
behind  them,  reverently,  and  with  downcast  faces,  marched 
an  escort  of  armed  lords  indescribably  splendid. 

The  street  traversed  was  the  same  Malinche  was  to  trav 
erse.  Often  and  again  did  the  subtle  monarch  look  to  paves 
and  house-tops,  and  to  the  canals  and  temples.  "Well  he 
knew  the  cunning  guest  would  sweep  them  all,  searching  for 
evidences  of  his  power ;  that  nothing  would  escape  examina 
tion  ;  that  the  myriads  of  spectators,  the  extent  of  the  city, 
its  position  in  the  lake,  and  thousands  of  things  not  to  be 
written  would  find  places  in  the  calculation  inevitable  if  the 
visit  were  with  other  than  peaceful  intent. 

At  a  palace  near  the  edge  of  the  city  the  escort  halted  to 
abide  the  coining. 

Soon,  from  the  lake,  a  sound  of  music  was  heard,  more 
plaintive  than  that  of  the  conchs. 

"  They  are  corning,  they  are  coming  !  The  teules  are 
coming !  "  shouted  the"  people ;  and  every  heart,  even  the 
king's,  beat  quicker.  Up  the  street  the  cry  passed,  like  * 
hurly  gust  of  wind. 


246  THE   FAIR   GOD. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE    ENTRY. 

IT  is  hardly  worth  while  to  eulogize  the  Christians  who 
took  part  in  Cortes'  crusade.  History  has  assumed  their 
commemoration.  I  may  say,  however,  they  were  men  who 
had  acquired  fitness  for  the  task  by  service  in  almost  every 
clime.  Some  had  tilted  with  the  Moor  under  the  walls  of 
Granada ;  some  had  fought  the  Islamite  on  the  blue  Danube  ; 
some  had  performed  the  first  Atlantic  voyage  with  Colum 
bus  ;  all  of  them  had  hunted  the  Carib  in  the  glades  of 
Hispaniola.  It  is  not  enough  to  describe  them  as  fortune- 
hunters,  credulous,  imaginative,  tireless  ;  neither  is  it  enough 
to  write  them  soldiers,  bold,  skilful,  confident,  cruel  to  ene 
mies,  gentle  to  each  other.  They  were  characters  of  the  age 
in  which  they  lived,  unseen  before,  unseen  since  ;  knights 
errant,  who  believed  in  hippogriff  and  dragon,  but  sought 
them  only  in  lands  of  gold ;  missionaries,  who  compla 
cently  broke  the  body  of  the  converted  that  Christ  might 
the  sooner  receive  his  soul ;  palmers  of  pike  and  shield, 
who,  in  care  of  the  Virgin,  followed  the  morning  round  the 
world,  assured  that  Heaven  stooped  lowest  over  the  most 
profitable  plantations. 

The  wonders  of  the  way  from  the  coast  to  Iztapalapan  had 
so  beguiled  the  little  host  that  they  took  but  partial  account 
of  its  dangers.  When,  this  morning,  they  stepped  upon  the 
causeway,  and  began  the  march  out  into  the  lake,  a  sense  of 
insecurity  fell  upon  them,  like  the  shadow  of  a  cloud  ;  back 
to  the  land  they  looked,  as  to  a  friend  from  whom  they  might 
be  parting  forever ;  and  as  they  proceeded,  and  the  water 
spread  around  them,  wider,  deeper,  and  up-bearing  densei 


THE   ENTRY.  247 


multitudes  of  people,  the  enterprise  suddenly  grew  in  pro 
portions,  and  challenged  their  self-sufficiency ;  yet,  as  I  have 
heard  them  confess,  they  did  not  wake  to  a  perfect  compre 
hension  of  their  situation,  and  its  dangers  and  difficulties, 
until  they  passed  the  gates  of  Xoloc  :  then  Tenochtitlan 
shone  upon  them,  —  a  city  of  enchantment !  And  then  each 
one  felt  that  to  advance  was  like  marching  in  the  face  of  death, 
at  the  same  time  each  one  saw  there  was  no  hope  except  in 
advance.  Every  hand  grasped  closer  the  weapon  with  which 
it  was  armed,  while  the  ranks  were  intuitively  closed.  What 
most  impressed  them,  they  said,  was  the  silence  of  the  peo 
ple  ;  a  word,  a  shout,  a  curse,  or  a  battle-cry  would  have 
been  a  relief  from  the  fears  and  fancies  that  beset  them ;  as 
it  was,  though  in  the  midst  of  myriad  life,  they  heard  only 
their  own  tramp,  or  the  clang  and  rattle  of  their  own  arms. 
As  if  aware  of  the  influence,  and  fearful  of  its  effect  upon 
his  weaker  followers,  Cortes  spoke  to  the  musicians,  and 
trumpet  and  clarion  burst  into  a  strain  which,  with  beat  of 
drum  and  clash  of  cymbal,  was  heard  in  the  city. 

"  Ola,  Sandoval,  Alvarado  !  Here,  at  my  right  and  left !  " 
cried  Cortes. 

They  spurred  forward  at  the  call. 

"  Out  of  the  way,  dog  ! "  shouted  Sandoval,  thrusting  a 
naked  tamene  over  the  edge  of  the  dike  with  the  butt  of  his 
lance. 

"  By  my  conscience,  Senores,"  Cortes  said,  "  I  think  true 
Christian  in  a  land  of  unbelievers  never  beheld  city  like  this. 
If  it  be  wrong  to  the  royal  good  knight,  Richard,  of  England, 
or  that  valorous  captain,  the  Flemish  Duke  Godfrey,  may 
the  saints  pardon  me  ;  but  I  dare  say  the  walled  towns  they 
took,  and,  for  that  matter,  I  care  not  if  you  number  Antioch 
and  the  Holy  City  of  the  Sepulchre  among  them,  were  not 
to  be  put  in  comparison  with  this  infidel  stronghold." 

And  as  they  ride,  listening  to  his  comments,  let  me  bring 
them  particularly  to  view. 


248  THE  FAIR   GOD. 


They  were  in  full  armor,  except  that  Alvarado's  squire 
carried  his  helmet  for  him.  In  preparation  for  the  entry, 
their  skilful  furbishers  had  well  renewed  the  original  lustre 
of  helm,  gorget,  breastplate,  glaive,  greave,  and  shield.  The 
plumes  in  their  crests,  like  the  scarfs  across  their  breasts,  had 
been  carefully  preserved  for  such  ceremonies.  At  the  saddle 
bows  hung  heavy  hammers,  better  known  as  battle-axes. 
Rested  upon  the  iron  shoe,  and  balanced  in  the  right  hand, 
each  carried  a  lance,  to  which,  as  the  occasion  was  peaceful, 
a  silken  pennon  was  attached.  The  horses,  opportunely 
rested  in  Iztapalapan,  and  glistening  in  mail,  trod  the  cause 
way  as  if  conscious  of  the  terror  they  inspired. 

Cortes,  between  his  favorite  captains,  rode  with  lifted  visor, 
smiling  and  confident.  His  complexion  was  bloodless  and 
ashy,  a  singularity  the  more  noticeable  on  account  of  his  thin, 
black  beard.  The  lower  lip  was  seamed  with  a  scar.  He 
was  of  fine  stature,  broad-shouldered,  and  thin,  but  strong, 
active,  and  enduring.  His  skill  in  all  manner  of  martial  ex 
ercises  was  extraordinary.  He  conversed  in  Latin,  composed 
poetry,  wrote  unexceptionable  prose,  and,  except  when  in 
passion,  spoke  gravely  and  with  well-turned  periods.*  In 
argument  he  was  both  dogmatic  and  convincing,  and  espe 
cially  artful  in  addressing  soldiers,  of  whom,  by  constitution, 
mind,  will,  and  courage,  he  was  a  natural  leader.  Now, 
gay  and  assured,  he  managed  his  steed  with  as  little  concern 
and  talked  carelessly  as  a  knight  returning  victorious  from 
some  joyous  passage  of  arms. 

Gonzalo  de  Sandoval,  not  twenty-three  years  of  age,  was 
better  looking,  having  a  larger  frame  and  fuller  face.  His 
beard  was  auburn,  and  curled  agreeably  to  the  prevalent 
fashion.  Next  to  his  knightly  honor,  he  loved  his  beautiful 
chestnut  horse,  Motilla.t 

*  Bernal  Diaz,  Hist,  of  the  Conq.  of  Mexico, 
t  Ib. 


THE  ENTRY.  249 


Handsomest  man  of  the  party,  however,  was  Don  Pedro 
de  Alvarado.  Generous  as  a  brother  to  a  Christian,  he  hated 
a  heathen  with  the  fervor  of  a  crusader.  And  now,  in  scorn 
of  Aztecan  treachery,  he  was  riding  unhelmed,  his  locks, 
long  and  yellow,  flowing  freely  over  his  shouldejs.  His  face 
was  fair  as  a  gentlewoman's,  and  neither  sun  nor  weathei 
could  alter  it.  Except  in  battle,  his  countenance  expressed 
the  friendliest  disposition.  He  cultivated  his  beard  assidu 
ously,  training  it  to  fall  in  ringlets  upon  his  breast,  —  and 
there  was  reason  for  the  weakness,  if  such  it  was ;  yellow 
as  gold,  with  the  help  of  his  fair  face  and  clear  blue  eyes,  it 
gave  him  a  peculiar  expression  of  sunniness,  from  which  the 
Aztecs  called  him  Tonitiah,  child  of  the  Sun.* 

And  over  what  a  following  of  cavaliers  the  leader  looked 
when,  turning  in  his  saddle,  he  now  and  then  glanced  down 
the  column,  —  Christobal  de  Oli,  Juan  Velasquez  de  Leon, 
Francisco  de  Montejo,  Luis  Marin,  Andreas  de  Tapia,  Alonzo 
de  Avila,  Francisco  de  Lugo,  the  Manjarezes,  Andreas  and 
Gregorio,  Diego  de  Ordas,  Francisco  de  Morla,  Christobal  de 
Olea,  Gonzalo  de  Dominguez,  Eodriques  Magarino,  Alonzo 
Hernandez  Carrero,  —  most  of  them  gentlemen  of  the  class 
who  knew  the  songs  of  Eodrigo,  and  the  stories  of  Amadia 
and  the  Paladins ! 

And  much  shame  would  there  be  to  me  if  I  omitted  men 
tion  of  two  others,  —  Bernal  Diaz  del  Castillo,  who,  after 
the  conquest,  became  its  faithful  historian,  and  Father  Bar- 
tolome  de  Olmedo,t  sweet  singer,  good  man,  and  devoted 
servant  of  God,  the  first  to  whisper  the  names  of  Christ  and 
the  Holy  Mother  in  the  ear  of  New  Spain.  In  the  column 
behind  the  cavaliers,  with  his  assistant,  Juan  de  las  Varillas, 
he  rode  bareheaded,  and  clad  simply  in  a  black  serge  gown. 
The  tinkle  of  the  little  silver  bell,  which  the  soldiers,  in  token 

*  Bernal  Diaz,  Hist,  of  the  Conq.  of  Mexico. 
+  Ib. 

11* 


250  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


of  love,  had  tied  to  the  neck  of  his  mule,  sounded,  amid  the 
harsher  notes  of  war,  like  a  gentle  reminder  of  shepherds  and 
grazing  flocks  in  peaceful  pastures  near  Old  "World  homes. 

After  the  holy  men,  in  care  of  a  chosen  guard  of  honor, 
the  flag  of  Spain  was  carried ;  and  then  came  the  artillery, 
drawn  by  slaves ;  next,  in  close  order,  followed  the  cross- 
bowmen  and  arquebusiers,  the  latter  with  their  matches 
lighted.  Rearward  still,  in  savage  pomp  and  pride,  strode 
the  two  thousand  Tlascalans,  first  of  their  race  to  bear  shield 
and  fly  banner  along  the  causeway  into  Tenochtitlan.  And 
so  the  Christians,  in  order  of  battle,  but  scarcely  four  hundred 
strong,  marched  into  a  capital  of  full  three  hundred  thousand 
inhabitants,  swollen  by  the  innumerable  multitudes  of  the 
valley. 

As  they  drew  nigh  the  city,  the  cavaliers  became  silent 
and  thoughtful.  With  astonishment,  which  none  of  them 
sought  to  conceal,  they  gazed  at  the  white  walls  and  crowded 
houses,  and,  with  sharpened  visions,  traced  against  the  sky 
the  outlines  of  temples  and  temple-towers,  more  numerous 
than  those  of  papal  Rome.  Well  they  knew  that  the  story 
of  \vhat  they  saw  so  magnificently  before  them  would  be  re 
ceived  with  incredulity  in  all  the  courts  of  Christendom. 
Indeed,  some  of  the  humbler  soldiers  marched  convinced  that 
all  they  beheld  was  a  magical  delusion.  Not  so  Cortes. 

"  Ride  on,  gentlemen,  ride  on !  "  he  said.  "  There  is  a 
question  I  would  ask  of  a  good  man  behind  us.  I  will  rejoin 
you  shortly." 

From  the  artillerists  he  singled  a  soldier. 

"  Martin  Lopez  !  Martin  Lopez  !  " 

The  man  came  to  him. 

"  Martin,  look  out  on  this  lake.  Beareth  it  resemblance 
to  the  blue  bays  on  the  southern  shore  of  old  Spain1?  As 
thou  art  a  crafty  sailor,  comrade  mine,  look  carefully." 

Lopez  raised  his  morion,  and,  leaning  on  his  pike,  glanced 
over  the  expanse. 


THE  ENTRY.  251 


"  Senor,  the  water  is  fair  enough,  and,  for  that,  looks  like 
bayous  I  have  seen  without  coming  so  far  ;  but  I  doubt  if  a 
two-decker  could  float  on  it  long  enough  for  Father  Olmedo 
to  say  mass  for  our  souls  i:i  peril." 

"  Peril !  Plague  take  thee,  man  !  Before  the  hour  of 
vespers,  by  the  Blessed  Lady,  whose  image  thou  wearest,  this 
lake,  yon  city,  its  master,  and  all  thou  seest  here,  not  except 
ing  the  common  spawn  of  idolatry  at  our  feet,  shall  be  the 
property  of  our  sovereign  lord.  But,  Martin  Lopez,  thou 
hast  hauled  sail  and  tacked  ship  in  less  room  than  this. 
What  say'st  thou  to  sailing  a  brigantine  here  1 " 

The  sailor's  spirit  rose  ;  he  looked  over  the  lake  again. 

"  It  might  be  done,  it  might  be  done  !  " 

"  Then,  by  my  conscience,  it  shall  be  !  Confess  thyself 
an  Admiral  to*night." 

And  Cortes  rode  to  the  front.  Conquest  might  not  be, 
he  saw,  without  vessels ;  and  true  to  his  promise,  it  came  to 
pass  that  Lopez  sailed,  not  one,  but  a  fleet  of  brigantines  on 
the  gentle  waters. 

When  the  Christians  were  come  to  the  first  bridge  outside 
the  walls,  their  attention  was  suddenly  drawn  from  the  city. 
Down  the  street  came  Montezuma  and  his  retinue.  Curious 
as  they  were  to  see  the  arch-infidel,  the  soldiers  kept  their 
ranks  ;  but  Cortes,  taking  with  him  the  cavaliers,  advanced 
to  meet  the  monarch.  When  the  palanquin  stopped,  the 
Spaniards  dismounted.  About  the  same  time  an  Indian 
woman,  of  comely  features,  came  forward. 

"  Stay  thou  here,  Marina,"  said  Cortes.  "  I  will  embrace 
the  heathen,  then  call  thee  to  speak  to  him." 

"  Jesu  f"  cried  Alvarado.  "There  is  gold  enough  011  his 
litter  to  furnish  a  cathedral." 

"  Take  thou  the  gold,  Senor ;  I  choose  the  jewels  on  his 
mantle,"  said  De  Ordas. 

"  By  my  patron  saint  of  excellent  memory  ! "  said  Sando- 


252  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


val,  lisping  his  words,  "  I  think  for  noble  cavaliers  ye  are 
easily  content.  Take  the  jewels  and  the  gold  ;  but  give 
me  that  train  of  stalwart  dogs,  and  a  plantation  worthy  of 
my  degree  here  by  Tezcuco." 

So  the  captains  talked. 

Meantime,  the  cotton  cloth  was  stretched  along  the  dike. 
Then  on  land  and  sea  a  hush  prevailed. 

Montezuma  came  forward  supported  by  the  lords  Cuitlahua 
and  Cacama.  Cortes  met  him  half-way.  "When  face  to 
face,  they  paused,  and  looked  at  each  other.  Alas,  for  the 
Aztec  then  !  In  the  mailed  stranger  he  beheld  a  visitant 
from  the  Sun,  —  a  god  !  The  Spaniard  saw,  wrapped  in  the 
rich  vestments,  only  a  man,  —  a  king,  yet  a  heathen  !  He 
opened  his  arms  :  Montezuma  stirred  not.  Cuitlahua  ut 
tered  a  cry  to  HuitziT,  and  caught  one  of  the*  extended  arms. 
Long  did  Cortes  keep  in  mind  the  cacique's  look  at  that 
moment ;  long  did  he  remember  the  dark  brown  face,  swollen 
with  indignation  and  horror.  Alvarado  laid  his  hand  on  his 
sword. 

"  Peace,  Don  Pedro  !  "  said  Cortes.  "  The  knave  knows 
nothing  of  respectable  customs.  Instead  of  taking  to  thy 
sword,  bless  the  Virgin  that  a  Christian  knight  hath  been 
saved  the  sin  of  embracing  an  unbeliever.  Call  Marina." 

The  woman  came,  and  stood  by  the  Spaniard,  and  in  a 
sweet  voice  interpreted  the  speeches.  The  monarch  expressed 
delight  at  seeing  his  visitors,  and  welcomed  them  to  Tenoch- 
titlan  ;  his  manner  and  courteous  words  won  even  Alva 
rado.  Cortes  answered,  acknowledging  surprise  at  the  beauty 
and  extent  of  the  city,  and  in  token  of  his  gratification  at 
being  at  last  before  a  king  so  rich  and  powerful  begged  him 
to  accept  a  present.  Into  the  royal  hand  he  then  placed  a 
string  of  precious  stones,  variously  colored,  and  strongly  per 
fumed  with  musk.  Thereupon  the  ceremony  ended.  Two  of 
the  princea  were  left  to  conduct  the  strangers  to  their  quarters. 


THE  ENTRY.  253 


Resuming  his  palanquin,  Montezuma  himself  led  the  proces 
sion  as  far  as  his  own  palace. 

And  Cortes  swung  himself  into  the  saddle.  "  Let  the 
trumpets  sound.  Forward  !  " 

Again  the  music,  —  again  the  advance  ;  then  the  pa 
geant  passed  from  the  causeway  and  lake  into  the  ex 
pectant  city. 

Theretofore,  the  Christians  had  been  silent  from  discipline, 
now  they  were  silent  from  wonder.  Even  Cortes  held  his 
peace.  They  had  seen  the  irregular  towns  of  Tlascala,  and 
the  pretentious  beauty  of  Cholula,  and  Iztapalapan,  in  whoso 
streets  the  lake  contended  with  the  land  for  mastery,  yel 
were  they  unprepared  for  Tenochtitlan.  Here,  it  was  plain, 
wealth  and  power  and  time  and  labor,  under  the  presidency 
of  genius,  had  wrought  their  perfect  works,  everywhere  visi 
ble  :  under  foot,  a  sounding  bridge,  or  a  broad  paved  way, 
dustless,  and  unworn  by  wheel  or  hoof;  on  the  right  and 
left,  airy  windows,  figured  portals,  jutting  balconies,  embat 
tled  cornices,  porticos  with  columns  of  sculptured  marble, 
and  here  a  palace,  there  a  temple ;  overhead  pyramidal 
heights  crowned  with  towers  and  smoking  braziers,  or  lower 
roofs,  from  which,  as  from  hanging  gardens,  floated  waftures 
sweet  as  the  perfumed  airs  of  the  Indian  isles ;  and  every 
where,  looking  up  from  the  canals,  down  from  the  porticos, 
houses,  and  pyramids,  and  out  of  the  doors  and  windows, 
crowding  the  pavement,  clinging  to  the  walls,  —  everywhere 
the  PEOPLE  !  After  ages  of  decay  I  know  it  has  been  other 
wise  ;  but  I  also  know  that  conquerors  have  generally  found 
the  builders  of  a  great  state  able  and  willing  to  defend  it. 

"  St.  James  absolve  me,  Senor !  but  I  like  not  the  cold 
ness  of  these  dogs,"  said  Monjarez  to  Avila. 

"  Nor  I,"  was  the  reply.  "  Seest  thou  the  women  on  yon 
balcony  ]  I  would  give  my  helmet  full  of  ducats,  if  they 
would  but  once  cry,  "  Viva  Espana  !  " 


254  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Nay,  that  would  I  if  they  would  but  wave  a  scarf." 

The  progress  of  the  pageant  was  necessarily  slow ;  but  ;it 
last  the  spectators  on  the  temple  of  Huitzil'  heard  its  music ; 
at  last  the  daughters  of  the  king  beheld  it  in  the  street  below 
them. 

"  Gods  of  my  fathers  !  "  thought  Tula,  awed  and  trembling, 
"  what  manner  of  beings  are  these  ? " 

And  the  cross-bowmen  and  arquebusiers,  their  weapons 
and  glittering  iron  caps,  the  guns,  and  slaves  that  dragged 
them,  even  the  flag  of  Spain,  —  objects  of  mighty  interest 
to  others,  —  drew  from  Nenetzin  but  a  passing  glance. 
Yery  beautiful  to  her,  however,  were  the  cavaliers,  insomuch 
that  she  cared  only  for  their  gay  pennons,  their  shields, 
their  plumes  nodding  bravely  above  their  helms,  their  armor 
of  strange  metal,  on  which  the  sun  seemed  to  play  with  a 
fiery  love,  and  their  steeds,  creatures  tamed  for  the  service 
of  gods.  Suddenly  her  eyes  fixed,  her  heart  stopped  ;  point 
ing  to  where  the  good  Captain  Alvarado  rode,  scanning, 
with  upturned  face,  the  great  pile,  "  O  Tula,  Tula !  "  she 
cried.  "  See  !  There  goes  the  blue-eyed  warrior  of  my 
dream  !  " 

But  it  happened  that  Tula  was,  at  the  moment,  too  much 
occupied  to  listen  or  look.  The  handsome  vendor  of  images, 
standing  near  the  royal  party,  had  attracted  the  attention  of 
Yeteve,  the  priestess. 

"  The  noble  Tula  is  unhappy.     She  is  thinking  of  - 

A  glance  checked  the  name. 

Then  Yeteve  whispered,  "  Look  at  the  image-maker." 

The  prompting  was  not  to  be  resisted.  She  looked,  and 
recognized  Guatamozin.  Not  that  only ;  through  his  low 
disguise,  in  his  attitude,  his  eyes  bright  with  angry  fire,  she 
discerned  his  spirit,  its  pride  and  heroism.  Not  for  her  was 
it  to  dispute  the  justice  of  his  banishment.  Love  scorned 
the  argument.  There  he  stood,  the  man  for  the  time  ;  strong- 


"THE  ENTRY.  255 

armed,  stronger-hearted,  prince  by  birth,  king  by  nature, 
watching  afar  off  a  scene  in  which  valor  and  genius  entitled 
him  to  prominence.  Then  there  were  tears  for  him,  and  a 
love  higher,  if  not  purer,  than  ever. 

Suddenly  he  leaned  over  the  verge,  and  shouted,  "  Al-a- 
lala !  Al-a-lala  ! "  and  with  such  energy  that  he  was  heard  in 
the  street  below.  Tula  looked  down,  and  saw  the  cause  of 
the  excitement,  —  the  Tlascalans  were  marching  by  !  Again 
his  cry,  the  same  with  which  he  had  so  often  led  his  coun 
trymen  to  battle.  No  one  took  it  up.  The  companies  inside 
the  sacred  wall  turned  their  faces,  and  stared  at  him  in 
dull  wonder.  And  he  covered  his  eyes  with  his  hands,  while 
every  thought  was  a  fierce  invective.  Little  he  then  knew 
how  soon,  and  how  splendidly,  they  were  to  purchase  his. 
forgiveness ! 

When  the  Tlascalans  were  gone,  he  dropped  his  hands, 
and  found  the  —  mallet !  So  it  was  the  artisan,  the  image- 
maker,  not  the  'tzin,  who  had  failed  to  wake  the  army 
to  war  !  He  turned  quickly,  and  took  his  way  through 
the  crowd,  and  disappeared  ;  and  none  but  Tula  and  Yeteve 
ever  knew  that,  from  the  teocallis,  Guatamozin  had  witnessed 
the  entry  of  the  teules. 

And  so  poor  Nenetzin  had  been  left  to  follow  the  warrior 
of  her  dream  ;  the  shock  and  the  pleasure  were  hers  alone. 

The  palace  of  Axaya'  faced  the  temple  of  HuitziT  on  the 
west.  In  one  of  the  halls  Montezuma  received  Cortes  and 
the  cavaliers  ;  and  all  their  lives  they  recollected  his  gentler 
ness,  courtesy,  and  unaffected  royalty  in  that  ceremony. 
Putting  a  golden  collar  around  the  neck  of  his  chief  guest, 
he  said,  "  This  palace  belongs  to  you,  Malinche,  and  to  your 
brethren.  Rest  after  your  fatigues  ;  you  have  much  need  to 
do  so.  In  a  little  while  I  will  come  again." 

And  when  he  was  gone,  straightway  the  guest  so  honored 
proceeded  to  change  the  palace  into  a  fort.  Along  the  massive 


256  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


walls  that  encircled  it  he  stationed  sentinels  ;  at  every  gate 
planted  cannon ;  and,  like  the  enemy  he  was,  he  began,  and 
from  that  time  enforced,  a  discipline  sterner  than  before. 

The  rest  of  the  day  the  citizens,  from  the  top  of  the  tem 
ple,  kept  incessant  watch  upon  the  palace.  When  the  shades 
of  evening  were  collecting  over  the  city,  and  the  thousands, 
grouped  along  the  streets,  were  whispering  of  the  incidents 
they  had  seen,  a  thunderous  report  broke  the  solemn  still 
ness  ;  and  they  looked  at  each  other,  and  trembled,  and 
called  the  evening  guns  of  Cortes  "  Voices  of  the  Gods." 


BOOK    FIVE. 

CHAPTEE  L 

PUBLIC    OPINION. 

UATAMOZIN,  accompanied  by  Hualpa,  left  the  city 
a  little  after  nightfalL  Impressed,  doubtless,  by  the 
great  event  of  the  day,  the  two  journeyed  in  silence,  until 
so  far  out  that  the  fires  of  the  capital  faded  into  a  rosy  tint 
low  on  the  horizon. 

Then  the  'tzin  said,  "  I  am  tired,  body  and  spirit ;  yet 
must  I  go  back  to  Tenochtitlan." 

"  To-night  1 "  Hualpa  asked. 

"  To-night ;  and  I  need  help." 

"  What  I  can,  0  'tzin,  that  will  I." 

"  You  are  weary,  also." 

"  I  could  follow  a  wounded  deer  till  dawn,  if  you  so  wished." 

"  It  is  well." 

After  a  while  the  'tzin  again  spoke. 

"  To-day  I  have  uidearned  all  the  lessons  of  my  youth. 
The  faith  I  thought  part  of  my  life  is  not ;  I  have  seen  the 
great  king  conquered  without  a  blow  !  " 

There  was  a  sigh  such  as  only  shame  can  wring  from  a 
strong  man. 

"  At  the  Chalcan's,  where  the  many  discontented  meet  to 
night,  there  will  be,"  he  resumed,  "  much  talk  of  war  with 
out  the  king.  Such  conferences  are  criminal ;  and  yet  there 
shall  be  war." 

He  spoke  with  emphasis. 

Q 


258  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"In  my  exile  without  a  cause,"  he  next  said,  "I  have 
learned  to  distinguish  between  the  king  and  country.  I 
have  even  reflected  upon  conditions  when  the  choosing  "be 
tween  them  may  become  a  duty.  Far  be  they  hence  !  but 
when  they  come,  Anahuac  shall  have  her  son.  To  accom 
plish  their  purpose,  the  lords  in  the  city  rely  upon  their 
united  power,  which  is  nothing ;  with  the  signet  in  his  hand, 
Maxtla  alone  could  disperse  their  forces.  There  is  that, 
however,  by  which  what  they  seek  can  be  wrought  right 
fully, —  something  under  the  throne,  not  above  it,  where 
they  are  looking,  and  only  the  gods  are,  —  a  power  known  to 
every  ruler  as  his  servant  when  wisely  cared  for,  and  his 
master  when  disregarded ;  public  opinion  we  call  it,  meaning 
the  judgment  and  will  of  the  many.  In  this  garb  of  artisan, 
I  have  been  with  the  people  all  day,  and  for  a  purpose 
higher  than  sight  of  what  I  abhorred.  I  talked  with  them. 
I  know  them.  In  the  march  from  Xoloc  there  was  not  a 
shout.  In  the  awful  silence,  what  of  welcome  was  there  1 
Honor  to  the  people !  Before  they  are  conquered  the  lake 
will  wear  a  red  not  of  the  sun  !  Imagine  them  of  one 
mind,  and  zealous  for  war  :  how  long  until  the  army  catches 
the  sentiment  1  Imagine  the  streets  and  temples  resounding 
with  a  constant  cry,  '  Death  to  the  strangers  ! '  how  long 
until  the  king  yields  to  the  clamor  ?  0  comrade,  that  would 
be  the  lawful  triumph  of  public  opinion ;  and  so,  I  say,  war 
shall  be." 

After  that  the  'tzin  remained  sunk  in  thought  until  the 
canoe  touched  the  landing  at  his  garden.  Leaving  the  boat 
men  there,  he  proceeded,  with  Hualpa,  to  the  palace.  In 
his  study,  he  said,  "  You  have  seen  the  head  of  the  stranger 
whom  I  slew  at  Nauhtlan.  I  have  another  trophy.  Come 
with  me." 

Providing  himself  with  a  lamp,  ho  led  the  way  to  what 
seemed  a  kind  of  workshop.  Upon  the  walls,  mixed  with 


PUBLIC  OPINION.  259 


strange  banners,  hung  all  kinds  of  Aztec  armor ;  a  bench 
stood  by  one  of  the  windows,  covered  with  tools ;  on  the 
floor  lay  bows,  arrows,  and  lances,  of  such  fashion  as  to  be 
tray  the  experimentalist.  The  corners  were  decorated,  if  the 
term  may  be  used,  with  effigies  of  warriors  preserved  by  the 
process  peculiar  to  the  people.  In  the  centre  of  the  room,  a 
superior  attraction  to  Hualpa,  stood  a  horse,  which  had  been 
subjected  to  the  same  process,  but  was  so  lifelike  now  that 
he  could  hardly  think  it  dead.  The  posture  chosen  for  the 
animal  was  that  of  partial  repose,  its  head  erect,  its  ears 
thrown  sharply  forward,  its  nostrils  distended,  the  forefeet 
firmly  planted  ;  so  it  had,  in  life,  often  stood  watching  the 
approach  or  disappearance  of  its  comrades.  The  housings 
were  upon  it  precisely  as  when  taken  from  the  field. 

"  I  promised  there  should  be  war,"  the  'tzin  said,  when  he 
supposed  Hualpa's  wonder  spent,  "and  that  the  people 
should  bring  it  about.  Now  I  say,  that  the  opinion  I  rely 
upon  would  ripen  to-morrow,  were  there  not  a  thick  cloud 
about  it.  The  faith  that  Malinche  and  his  followers  are 
teules  has  spread  from  the  palace  throughout  the  valley. 
Unless  it  be  dispelled,  Anahuac  must  remain  the  prey  of  the 
spoiler.  Mualox,  the  keeper  of  the  old  Cu  of  Quetzal',  taught 
me  long  ago,  that  in  the  common  mind  mystery  can  only 
be  assailed  by  mystery ;  and  that,  0  comrade,  is  what  I  now 
propose.  This  nameless  thing  here  belonged  to  the  stranger 
whom  I  slew  at  Xauhtlan.  Come  closer,  and  lay  your  hand 
upon  it ;  mount  it,  and  you  may  know  how  its  master  felt 
the  day  he  rode  it  to  death.  There  is  his  lance,  there  his 
shield,  here  his  helm  and  whole  array ;  take  them,  and 
learn  what  little  is  required  to  make  a  god  of  a  man." 

For  a  moment  he  busied  himself  getting  the  property  of 
the  unfortunate  Christian  together ;  then  he  stopped  before 
the  Tihuancan,  saying,  "  Let  others  choose  their  parts,  O 
comrade.  All  a  warrior  may  do,  that  will  I.  If  the  Empire 


260  THE    FAIR    GOD, 


must  die,  it  shall  be  like  a  fighting  man,  —  a  hero's  song  for 
future  minstrels.  Help  me  now.  We  will  take  the  trophy 
to  the  city,  and  set  it  up  in  the  tianguez  along  with  the 
shield,  arms,  and  armor.  The  rotting  head  in  the  summer- 
house  we  will  fix  near  by  on  the  lance.  To-morrow,  when 
the  traders  open  their  stalls,  and  the  thousands  so  shamelessly 
sold  come  back  to  their  bartering  and  business,  a  mystery 
shall  meet  them  which  no  man  can  look  upon  and  -afterwards 
believe  Malinche  a  god.  I  see  the  scene,  —  the  rush  of  the 
people,  their  surprise,  their  pointing  fingers.  I  hear  the 
eager  questions,  'What  are  they?'  'Whence  came  they?' 
I  hear  the  i-eady  answer, '  Death  to  the  strangers  ! '  Then,  O 
comrade,  will  begin  the  Opinion,  by  force  of  which,  the  gods 
willing,  we  shall  yet  hear  the  drum  of  Huitzil'.  Lay  hold 
now,  and  let  us  to  the  canoe  with  the  trophies." 

"  If  it  be  heavy  as  it  seems,  good  'tzin,"  said  Hualpa, 
stooping  to  the  wooden  slab  which  served  as  the  base  of  the 
effigy,  "  I  fear  we  shall  be  overtasked." 

"  It  is  not  heavy  ;  two  children  could  carry  it.  A  word 
more  before  we  proceed.  In  what  I  propose  there  is  a  peril 
aside  from-  the  patrols  in  the  tianguez.  Malinche  will  hear 
of—" 

Hualpa  laughed.  "  Was  ever  a  victim  sacrificed  before  he 
was  caught? " 

"  Hear  further,"  said  the  'tzin,  gravely.  u  I  took  the  king 
to  the  summer-house,  and  showed  him  the  head,  which  he 
will  recognize.  Your  heart,  as  well  as  mine,  may  pay  the 
forfeit.  Consider." 

"  Lay  hold,  O  'tziu  !  Did  you  not  but  now  call  me  com 
rade  ?  Lay  hold !  " 

Thereupon  they  carried  the  once  good  steed  out  to  the 
landing.  Then  the  'tzin  went  to  the  kiosk  for  the  Span 
iard's  head,  while  Hualpa  returned  to  the  palace  for  the 
arms  and  equipments.  The  head,  wrapped  in  a  cloth,  was 


A   MESSAGE  FROM  THE  GODS.  261 

dropped  in  the  bow  of  the  boat,  and  the  horse  and  trappings 
carried  on  board.  Trusting  in  the  gods,  the  voyageurs 
pushed  off,  and  were  landed,  without  interruption,  near  the 
great  tianguez. 


CHAPTER  II. 

A   MESSAGE    FROM    THE    GODS. 

*'  ~T~T  is  done  !  "  said  the  'tzin,  in  a  whisper.     "  It  is  done ! 

_1_  One  more  service,  O  comrade,  if — " 

"  Do  not  spare  me,  good  'tzin.  I  am  happiest  when  serv 
ing  you." 

"  Then  stay  in  the  city  to-night,  and  be  here  early  after 
the  discovery.  Take  part  with  the  crowd,  and,  if  oppor 
tunity  offer,  direct  it.  I  must  return  to  my  exile.  Report 
when  all  is  over.  The  gods  keep  you !  Farewell." 

Hualpa,  familiar  with  the  square,  went  to  the  portico  of 
the  Chalcan  ;  and  as  the  lamps  were  out,  and  the  curtains  of 
the  door  drawn  for  the  night,  with  the  privilege  of  an  habitue 
he  stretched  himself  upon  one  of  the  lounges,  and,  lulled  by 
the  fountain,  fell  asleep. 

A  shout  awoke  him.  He  looked  out  to  see  the  day  break 
ing  in  gloom.  The  old  sky  of  blue,  in  which  the  summer 
had  so  long  and  lovingly  nestled,  was  turned  to  lead  ;  the 
smoke  seemed  to  have  fallen  from  the  temples,  and,  burden 
ing  the  atmosphere,  was  driving  along  slowly  and  heavily,  like 
something  belonging  to  the  vanishing  night.  Another  cry 
louder  than  the  first ;  then  the  door,  or,  rather,  the  screen, 
behind  him  was  opened,  and  the  Chalcan  himself  came 
forth. 

"  Ah,  son  of  my  friend  !  —  Hark  !  Some  maudlin  fellow 
hallooes.  The  fool  would  like  to  end  his  sleep,  hard  enough 


262  THE   FAIR   GOD. 


out   there,   in   the  temple.      But   you,  —  where   have  you 
been  1 " 

"  Here,  good  Xoli,  on  this  lounge." 

"  The  night  1  Ah  !  the  pulque  was  too  much  for  you.  For 
your  father's  sake,  boy,  I  give  you  advice  :  To  be  perfectly 
happy  in  Tenochtitlan,  it  is  necessary  to  remember,  first,  how 
the  judges  punish  drunkenness  ;  next,  that  there  is  no  pure 
liquor  in  the  city  except  in  the  king's  jars,  and  —  There, 
the  shout  again  !  two  of  them  !  a  third  !  " 

And  the  broker  also  looked  out  of  the  portico. 

"  Holy  gods,  what  a  smoke !  There  go  some  sober  citi 
zens,  neighbors  of  mine,  —  and  running.  Something  of  in 
terest  !  Come,  Hualpa,  let  us  go  also.  The  times  are  won 
derful.  You  know  there  are  gods  in  Tenochtitlan  besides 
those  we  worship.  Come !  " 

"  I  am  hungry." 

"  I  will  feed  you  to  bursting  when  we  get  back.    Come  on." 

As  they  left  the  portico,  people  Avere  hastening  to  the  cen 
tre  of  the  square,  where  the  outcry  was  now  continuous  and 
growing. 

"  Room  for  the  Chalcan  !  "  said  a  citizen,  already  on  the 
ground.  "  Let  him  see  what  is  here  fallen  from  the  clouds." 

Great  was  the  astonishment  of  the  broker  when  his  eyes 
first  rested  on  the  stately  figure  of  the  horse,  and  the  terrible 
head  on  the  lance  above  it.  Hualpa  affected  the  same  feel 
ing,  but,  having  a  part  to  play,  shouted,  as  in  alarm,  — 

"  It  is  one  of  the  fighting  beasts  of  Malinche  !  Beware, 
0  citizens  !  Your  lives  may  be  in  danger." 

The  crowd,  easily  persuaded,  fell  back. 

"  Let  us  get  arms  !  "  shouted  one. 

"  Arms  !     Get  arms  !  "  then  rose,  in  full  chorus. 

Hualpa  ventured  nearer,  and  cried  out,  "  The  beast  is 
dead ! " 

"  Keep  off,  boy  !  "  said  Xoli,  himself  at  a  respectable  dis 
tance.  "  Trust  it  not ;  such  things  do  not  die." 


A  MESSAGE  FROM  THE  GODS.  263 

ISTever  speech  more  opportune  for  the  Tihuancan. 

"  Be  it  of  the  earth  or  Sun,  I  tell  you,  friends,  it  is  dead," 
he  replied,  more  loudly.  *'  Who  knows  but  that  the  holy 
HuitziF  has  set  it  up  here  to  be  seen  of  all  of  us,  that  we 
may  know  Malinche  is  not  a  god..  Is  there  one  among  you 
who  has  a  javelin  1 " 

A  weapon  was  passed  to  him  over  the  heads  of  the  fast  in 
creasing  crowd. 

"  Stand  aside  !     I  will  see." 

Without  more  ado,  the  adventurer  thrust  deep  in  the 
horse's  flank.  Those  directly  about  held  their  breath  from 
fear ;  and  when  the  brute  stirred  not,  they  looked  at  each 
other,  not  knowing  what  to  say.  That  it  was  dead,  was  past 
doubt. 

"  Who  will  gainsay  me  now  ]  "  continued  Hualpa.  "  It 
is  dead,  and  so  is  he  to  whom  yon  head  belonged.  Gods 
fall  not  so  low." 

It  was  one  of  those  moments  when  simple  minds  are  easily 
converted  to  any  belief. 

"  Gods  they  are  not,"  said  a  voice  in  the  throng ;  "  but 
whence  came  they  ?  " 

"  And  who  put  them  here  1 "  asked  another. 

Hualpa  answered  swiftly,  — 

"  Well  said  !  The  gods  speak  not  directly  to  those  whom 
they  would  admonish  or  favor.  And  if  this  be  the  handi 
work  of  Huitzil',  —  and  what  more  likely  ?  —  should  we  not 
inquire  if  it  have  a  meaning  ?  It  may  be  a  message.  Is 
there  a  reader  of  pictures  among  you,  friends  ?  " 

"  Here  is  one  !  " 

"  Let  him  come  !     Make  way  for  him  !  " 

A  citizen,  from  his  dress  a  merchant,  was  pushed  forward, 

"  What  experience  have  you  ? " 

"  I  studied  in  the  calmecac  !  "  * 

*  The  University, 


264  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


The  man  raised  his  eyes  to  the  head  on  the  lance,  and  they 
became  transfixed  with  horror. 

"  Look,  then,  to  what  we  have  here,  and,  saying  it  is  a 
message  from  the  holy  HuitziT,  read  it  for  us.  Speak  out, 
that  all  may  hear." 

The  citizen  was  incapable  of  speech,  and  the  people  cried 
Out,  "  He  is  a  shame  to  the  heroic  god  !  Off  with  him,  off 
with  him  !  " 

But  Hualpa  interfered.  "  No.  He  still  believes  Malinche 
a  god.  Let  him  alone  !  I  can  use  him."  Then  he  spoke 
to  the  merchant.  "  Hear  me,  my  friend,  and  I  will  read.  If 
I  err,  stop  me." 

"  Read,  read  !  "  went  up  on  all  sides. 

Hualpa  turned  to  the  group  as  if  studying  it.  Around 
him  fell  the  silence  of  keen  expectancy. 

"  Thus  writes  Huitzil',  greatest  of  gods,  to  the  children  of 
Anahuac,  greatest  of  peoples  !  " - — -so  Hualpa  began.  "  '  The 
strangers  in  Tenochtitlan  are  my  enemies,  and  yours,  0  peo 
ple.  They  come  to  overthrow  my  altars,  and  make  you  a 
nation  of  slaves.  You  have  sacrificed  and  prayed  to  me,  anil 
now  I  say  to  you,  Arise  !  Take  arms  before  it  is  too  late. 
Malinche  and  his  followers  are  but  men.  Strike  them,  and. 
chey  will  die.  To  convince  you  that  they  are  not  gods,  lo ! 
here  is  one  of  them  dead.  So  I  say,  slay  them,  and  every 
thing  that  owns  them,  master,  even  the  beasts  they  ride  ! ' 
—  Ho,  friend,  is  not  that  correct  1 " 

"  So  I  would  have  read,"  said  the  merchant. 

"  Praised  be  Huitzil'  !  "  cried  Hualpa,  devoutly. 

"  Live  the  good  god  of  our  fathers  !  Death  to  the  stran 
gers  !  "  answered  the  people. 

And  amid  the  stir  and  hum  of  many  voices,  the  comrade 
of  the  'tziii,  listening,  heard  his  words  repeated,  and  passed 
from  man  to  man  ;  so  that  he  knew  his  mission  done,  and 
that  by  noon  the  story  of  the  effigy  would  be  common 


A   MESSAGE   FROM  THE  GODS.  265 

throughout  the  city,  and  in  flight  over  the  valley,  with 
his  exposition  of  its  meaning  accepted  and  beyond  counter 
action. 

After  a  while  the  Chalcan  caught  his  arm,  saying,  "  The 
smell  is  dreadful  to  a  cultivated  nose  sharpened  by  an  empty 
stomach.  Snuff  for  one,  breakfast  for  the  other.  Let  us 

SO" 

Hualpa  followed  him. 

"  "Who  is  he  1  who  is  he  1 "  asked  the  bystanders,  eagerly. 

"  Him  !  Not  know  him  !  It  is  the  brave  lad  who  slew 
the  tiger  and  saved  the  king's  life." 

And  the  answer  was  to  the  exposition  like  an  illuminated 
seal  to  a  royal  writ. 

Morning  advanced,  curtained  with  clouds ;  and,  as  the  ac 
count  of  the  spectacle  flew,  the  multitude  in  the  tianyuez 
increased,  until  there  was  not  room  left  for  business.  All 
who  caught  the  news  hurried  to  see  the  sight,  and  for 
themselves  read  the  miraculous  message  of  Huitzil'.  The 
clamor  of  tongues  the  while  was  like  the  clamor  of  waves, 
and  not  singularly ;  for  thus  was  fought  the  first  great 
battle,  —  the  battle  of  the  mysteries,  —  and  with  this  re 
sult  :  if  a  believer  in  the  divinity  of  Cortes  looked  once  at 
the  rotting  head  on  the  lance,  he  went'  away  of  the  'tzin's 
opinion,  impatient  for  war. 

About  noon  a  party  of  Spaniards,  footmen,  armed  and  out 
inspecting  the  city,  entered  the  square.  The  multitude 
daunted  them  not  the  least.  Talking,  sometimes  laughing, 
they  sauntered  along,  peering  into  the  open  booths  and  stalls, 
and  watching  with  practised  eyes  for  gold. 

"  Holy  mass  !  "  exclaimed  one  of  them,  stopping.  "  The 
heathen  are  at  sacrifice." 

"  Sacrifice,  saidst  thou  ?     This  is  their  market-place." 

"  That  as  thou  wilt.  I  tell  thee  they  have  been  at  wor 
ship.  My  eyes  are  not  dim  as  my  mother's,  who  was  past 
12 


26G  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


fifty  the  day  we  sailed  from.  Cuba,  —  may  the  saints  preserve 
her  !  If  they  were,  yet  could  I  swear  that  yonder  hangs  the 
head  of  a  victim." 

Over  the  restless  crowd  they  looked  at  the  ghastly  object, 
eager  yet  uncertain. 

"  Now  I  bethink  me,  the  poor  wretch  who  hath  suffered 
the  death  may  have  been  one  of  the  half-assoilzied  sons  of 
Tlascala.  If  we  are  in  a  stronghold  of  enemies,  as  I  have 
concluded  from  the  wicked,  Carib  looks  of  these  savages, 
Heaven  and  St.  James  defend  us !  We  are  a  score  with 
weapons  ;  in  the  Mother's  name,  let  us  to  the  bloody  sign !  " 

The  unarmed  mass  into  which,  without  further  consider 
ation,  they  plunged,  was  probably  awed  by  the  effrontery  of 
the  movement,  for  the  leader  had  not  once  occasion  to  shorten 
his  advancing  step.  Halted  before  the  spectacle,  they  looked 
first  at  the  horse,  then  at  the  head.  Eemembrance  was  faith 
ful  :  in  one,  they  recognized  the  remains  of  a  comrade  ;  in 
the  other,  his  property. 

"  Arguella,  Arguella  !  Good  captain  !  Santa  Maria  !  " 
burst  from  them. 

As  they  gazed,  tears  of  pity  and  rage  filled  their  eyes,  and 
coursed  down  their  bronzed  cheeks. 

"  Peace  !  "  said  the  sterner  fellow  at  whose  suggestion  they 
had  come.  "  Are  ye  soldiers,  or  whimpering  women  ?  Do 
as  I  bid  !  Save  your  tears  for  Father  Bartolome  to  mix  with 
masses  for  the  poor  fellow's  soul.  Look  to  the  infidels  !  I 
will  take  down  the  head." 

He  lowered  the  lance,  and  took  off  the  loathsome  ob 
ject. 

"  We  will  carry  it  to  the  Senor  Hernan.  It  shall  have 
burial,  and  masses,  and  a  cross.  Hands  to  the  horse  now  ! 
Arguella  loved  it  well ;  many  a  day  I  have  seen  him  comb 
its  mane  kindly  as  if  it  had  been  the  locks  of  his  sweetheart. 
Nay,  it  is  too  unwieldy.  Let  it  stand,  but  take  the  armor. 


HOW   ILLS  OF  STATE  BECOME  ILLS   OF   SOCIETY.      267 

Hug  the  good  sword  close.  Heaven  willing,  it  shall  redden 
in  the  carcasses  of  some  of  these  hounds  of  hell.  Are  we 
ready  ]  To  quarters,  then  !  As  we  go,  mark  the  unbelievers, 
and  cleave  the  first  that  lifts  a  hand  or  bars  the  way." 

They  reached  the  old  palace  in  safety.  Needless  to  depict 
the  grief  and  rage  of  the  Christians  at  sight  of  the  counte 
nance  of  the  unfortunate  Arguella. 


CHAPTEE  III. 

HOW   ILLS   OF    STATE   BECOME    ILLS    OP   SOCIETY. 

BY  this  time,  Io',  the  prince,  had  acquired  somewhat 
of  the  importance  of  a  man.  Thanks  to  Hualpa,  and 
his  own  industry,  he  could  hurl  a  javelin,  strike  stoutly  with 
a  maquahuitl,  and  boast  of  skill  with  the  bow.  As  well  he 
might,  he  smiled  at  thought  of  the  maternal  care,  and  from 
his  sisters  demanded  a  treatment  due  to  one  of  his  accom 
plishments  and  dignity. 

The  day  after  the  incidents  narrated  in  the  preceding 
chapter,  he  entered  Tula's  apartment,  and  requested  her  to 
dismiss  her  attendants. 

"  Sit  down,  my  brother,"  she  said,  when  they  were  alone. 
"  You  look  vexed.  What  has  happened  ? " 

Going  to  a  table  close  by,  he  commenced  despoiling  a  vase 
of  flowers.  She  repeated  the  question. 

"  I  am  glad,"  he  answered,  "  to  find  one  whom  the  coming 
of  the  strangers  has  not  changed." 

"What  now?" 

"  I  have  been  again  and  again  to  see  Nenetzin,  but  she  re 
fuses  me.  Is  she  sick  1 " 

11  Not  that  I  know." 


268  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


"  Then  why  is  she  so  provoking  ?  " 

"  My  brother,  you  know  not  what  it  is  for  a  girl  to  find 
her  lover.  Nenetzin  has  found  hers." 

"  It  is  to  talk  about  him  I  want  to  see  her." 

"  You  know  him  !     How  1  when  ? " 

"  Do  I  not  see  him  every  day  ]     Is  he  not  my  comrade  ?  " 

"  Your  comrade  !  " 

"  The  lord  Hualpa !  He  came  to  you  once  with  a  message 
from,  the  'tzin." 

To  a  woman,  the  most  interesting  stories  are  those  that 
have  to  do  with  the  gentle  passion.  Seeing  his  mistake,  she 
encouraged  it. 

"  Yes,  I  remember  him.    He  is  both  brave  and  handsome." 

Io'  left  the  vase,  and  came  to  her  side.  His  curiosity  was 
piqued. 

"  How  came  you  to  know  he  was  her  lover  ?  He  would 
hardly  confess  it  to  me." 

"  Yet  he  did  tell  you  ?"  she  answered,  evasively. 

"  Yes.  One  day,  tired  of  practising  with  our  slings,  we 
lay  down  in  the  shade  of  a  ceiba-tree.  We  talked  about 
what  I  should  do  when  I  became  a  man.  I  should  be  a  war 
rior,  and  command  armies,  and  conquer  Tlascala ;  he  should 
be  a  warrior  also,  and  in  my  command.  Tliat  should  not  be, 
I  told  him,  as  he  would  always  be  the  most  skilfuL  He 
laughed,  but  not  as  merrily  as  I  have  heard  him.  Then  he 
said,  '  There  are  many  things  you  will  have  learned  by  that 
time  ;  such  as  what  rank  is,  and  especially  what  it  is  to  be 
of  the  king's  blood.'  I  asked  him  why  he  spoke  so.  He  said 
he  would  tell  me  some  day,  but  not  then.  And  I  thought 
of  the  time  we  went  to  meet  you  at  the  chinampa,  and  of 
how  he  gave  you  a  vase  from  the  'tzin,  and  one  to  Nenetzin 
from  himself.  Then  I  thought  I  understood  him,  but  in 
sisted  on  his  telling.  He  put  me  off ;  at  last  he  said  he  was  a 
foolish  fellow,  and  in  his  lonely  haunts  in  Tihuanco  had  ac- 


HOW   ILLS   OF  STATE  BECOME  ILLS   OF  SOCIETY.      269 

quired  a  habit  of  dreaming,  which  was  not  broken  as  he 
would  like.  He  had  first  seen  Nenetzin  at  the  Quetzal'  com 
bat,  and  thought  her  handsomer  than  any  one  he  had  ever 
met.  The  day  on  the  lake  he  ventured  to  speak  to  her ;  she 
smiled,  and  took  his  gift ;  and  since  that  he  had  riot  been 
strong  enough  to  quit  thinking  about  her.  It  was  great 
folly,  he  said.  '  Why  so  1 '  I  asked  him.  He  hid  his  face 
in  the  grass,  and  answered,  '  I  am  the  son  of  a  merchant ; 
she  is  of  the  king's  blood,  and  would  mock  me.'  '  But,'  said 
I,  '  you  are  now  noble,  and  owner  of  a  palace.'  He  raised 
his  head,  and  looked  at  me ;  had  she  been  there,  she  would 
not  have  mocked  him.  '  Ah,'  he  said,  '  if  I  could  only  get 
her  to  cease  thinking  of  me  as  the  trader's  son  ! '  '  Now  you 
are  foolish/  I  told  him.  '  Did  you  not  win  your  rank  by 
fighting]  Why  not  fight  for' — Nenetzin,  I  was  about  to 
say,  but  he  sprang  up  and  ran  off,  and  it  was  long  before  I 
could  get  him  to  speak  of  her  again.  The  other  day,  however, 
he  consented  to  let  me  try  and  find  out  what  she  thought  of 
him.  To-morrow  I  rejoin  him ;  and  if  he  asks  me  about  her, 
what  can  I  say  1 " 

"So  you  wished  to  help  your  poor  comrade.  Tell  me 
what  you  intended  saying  to  her." 

"  1  intended  to  tell  her  how  I  was  passing  the  time,  and 
then  to  praise  him  for  his  courage  and  skill,  his  desire  to  be 
great,  his  gentleness  —  0,  there  are  a  thousand  things  to 
say  !  " 

Tula  smiled  sorrowfully.  "Did  you  imagine  she  would 
learn  to  love  him  from  that  1 " 

11  Why  not '? "  asked  Io',  innocently. 

"  I  cannot  explain  now ;  time  will  teach  you.  My  brother, 
long  will  an  Aztec  woo  before  he  wins  our  wayward  sister  !  " 

"  Well,"  he  said,  taking  her  hand,  "  what  I  wanted  to  say 
to  her  will  come  better  from  you.  Ah,  if  you  but  knew 
him  as  I  and  the  'tzin  do  !  " 


270  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Does  the  'tzin  so  love  him  1 " 

"  Was  he  not  a  chosen  messenger  to  you  1 " 

She  shook  her  head  doubtfully.  "  I  fear  she  is  beyond 
our  little  arts.  Fine  speeches  alone  will  not  do.  Though  we 
painted  him  fair  as  Quetzal',  and  set  the  picture  before  her 
every  hour  in  the  day,  still  it  would  not  be  enough.  Does 
he  come  often  to  the  city  1 " 

"  Never,  except  for  the  'tzin." 

"  We  must  get  them  together.  Let  me  see,  —  ah,  yes  ;  the 
chinampa  !  We  have  not  been  there  for  a  long  time,  and 
that  will  be  an  excuse  for  going  to-morrow.  You  can  bring 
the  lord  Hualpa,  and  I  will  take  a  minstrel,  and  have  him 
sing,  and  tell  stories  of  love  and  lovers." 

She  stopped,  and  sighed,  thinking,  doubtless,  how  the 
'tziii's  presence  would  add  to  the  pleasure  of  the  meeting. 
At  that  moment  the  curtain  of  the  door  was  flung  aside,  and 
Nenetzin  herself  came  in,  looking  vexed  and  pouting. 

"  Yesterday  was  too  much  for  my  sister,"  said  Tula,  pleas- 
antly.  "  I  hope  she  is  well  again." 

"  I  slept  poorly,"  was  the  reply. 

"  If  you  are  sick,  we  will  send  to  the  temples  —  " 

"  No,  I  hate  the  herb-dealers." 

"  What  ails  you,  Nenetzin  ? "  asked  Io',  irritated. 

"  Who  would  not  be  ailing,  afflicted  as  I  have  been  ]  One 
graceless  fellow  after  another  calling  to  see  me,  until  I  am 
out  of  patience  !  " 

Io'  colored,  and  turned  away. 

"  But  what  if  they  had  news,"  said  Tula ;  "  something 
from  the  strangers  1 " 

Nenetzin's  face  brightened.  "  What  of  them  1  Have 
they  waited  on  our  father  ?  " 

"  Have  they,  Io'  1 "  Tula  asked. 

He  made  no  answer  ;  he  was  angry. 

"  Well,  well !  what  folly  !     You,  Io',  I  shall  have  to  send 


HOW   ILLS  OF  STATE  BECOME  ILLS  OF  SOCIETY.       271 

back  to  the  'tzin  ;  and,  Nenetzin,  fie  !  the  young  lords  would 
be  afraid  to  see  you  now." 

"  The  monkeys  ! " 

Io',  without  a  word,  left  the  room. 

"  You  are  too  hard,  Nenetzin.  Our  brother  wants  to  be 
treated  like  a  man.  Many  of  the  young  lords  are  his  friends. 
When  you  came  in,  he  was  telling  me  of  the  fine  fellow 
who  saved  our  father's  life." 

Nenetzin  appeared  uninterested. 

"  From  lo's  account,  he  must  be  equal  to  the  'tzin.  Have 
you  forgotten  him  ?  " 

"  I  have  his  vase  somewhere." 

"  Somewhere  !  I  hope  you  have  not  lost  it.  I  received 
one  at  the  same  time  ;  there  mine  is,  —  that  one  filled  with 
flowers." 

Nenetzin  did  not  look. 

"  When  he  made  you  the  gift,  I  think  he  meant  more 
than  a  compliment.  He  is  a  lover  to  be  proud  of,  and,  sis 
ter,  a  smile  might  win  him." 

"  I  do  not  care  for  lovers." 

"  Not  care  to  be  loved  ?  " 

Nenetzin  turned  to  her  with  tearful  eyes.  "Just  now 
you  said  Io'  wanted  to  be  treated  as  a  man ;  for  i.':<3  same 
reason,  O  Tula,  I  want  to  be  treated  as  a  woman.  I  do  want 
to  be  loved,  but  not  as  children  are." 

Tula  put  her  arm  around  her.  lovingly.  "  Never  mind.  I 
will  learn  better  afterwhile.  I  treat  you  as  a  child  from 
habit,  and  because  of  the  warm,  sweet  love  of  our  child 
hood.  0  that  the  love  would  last  always  !  " 

They  were  silent  then,  each  intent  upon  her  separate 
thought,  both  unconscious  that  the  path  theretofore  so 
peacefully  travelled  together  was  now  divergent,  and  that  the 
fates  were  leading  them  apart  forever.  Of  all  the  evil  angels 
of  humanity,  that  one  is  the  most  cruel  whose  mission  it  is 
to  sunder  the  loves  of  the  household. 


272  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Nenetzin,  you  have  been  crying,  —  over  what  ?  Lean 
on  me,  confide  in  me  !  " 

"  You  will  make  light  of  what  I  say." 

"  When  was  I  a  jester  1  You  have  had  ills  before,  childish 
ills  ;  if  I  did  not  mock  them,  am  I  likely  to  laugh  at  your 
woman's  troubles  1 " 

"But  this  is  something  you  cannot  help." 

"  The  gods  can." 

"  A  god  is  the  trouble.  I  saw  him,  and  love  him  better 
than  any  our  father  worships.  " 

Bold  confirmation  that  of  the  elder  sister's  fears.  "  You 
saw  him  1 "  she  asked,  musingly. 

"  And  know  him  by  name.  Tonatiah,  Tonatiah :  is  it 
not  pretty?" 

"  Are  you  not  afraid  1 " 

"  Of  what  1  Him  1  Yes,  but  he  is  so  handsome  !  You 
saw  him  also.  Did  you  not  notice  his  white  forehead,  and 
the  brightness  of  his  blue  eyes,  the  sunshine  of  his  face] 
As  against  him,  ah,  Tula  !  what  are  the  lords  you  would  have 
me  love  1 " 

"  He  is  our  father's  enemy." 

"  His  guest ;  he  came  by  invitation." 

"  All  the  gods  of  our  race  threaten  him." 

"  Yet  I  love  him,  and  would  quit  everything,  to  follow 
him." 

"  Gods  ask  not  the  love  we  give  each  other." 

"  You  mean  he  would  despise  me.  Never !  I  am  the 
daughter  of  a  king." 

"  You  are  mad,  Nenetzin." 

"Then  love  is  madness,  and  I  am  very  mad.  0,  I  was 
so  happy  yesterday  !  Once  I  thought  he  saw  me.  It  was 
when  he  was  passing  the  coatapantli.  The  base  artisan  was 
shouting,  and  he  heard  him,  or  seemed  to,  for  he  raised  his 
glance  to  the  azoteas.  My  heart  stood  still ;  the  air  brightened 


HOW  ILLS   OF  STATE   BECOME   ILLS   OF  SOCIETY.      273 

around  me ;  if  I  had  been  set  down  in  the  Sun  itself,  I  could 
not  have  been  happier." 

"  Have  you  mentioned  this  to  the  queen  Acatlan  ] " 

"Why  should  II  I  will  choose  my  own  Jove.  No  one, 
not  even  my  mother,  would  object  to  the  king  Cacama  : 
why  should  she  when  my  choice  is  nobler,  handsomer, 
mightier  than  he  1 " 

"  What  do  you  know  of  the  strangers  ? " 

"Nothing.     He  is  one  of  them;  that  is  enough." 

"  I  meant  of  their  customs ;  marriage,  for  instance." 

"  The  thought  is  new." 

"  Tell  me,  ISTenetzin  :  would  you  go  with  him,  except  as 
his  wife  ] " 

She  turned  away  her  glowing  eyes,  confused.  "  I  know 
not  what  I  would  do.  If  I  went  with  him  except  as  his 
wife,  our  father  would  curse  me,  and  my  mother  would  die. 
I  shudder ;  yet  I  remember  how  his  look  from  a  distance 
made  me  tremble  with  strange  delight." 

"  It  was  magic,  like  Mualox's." 

"  I  do  not  know.  I  was  about  to  say,  if  such  was  his 
power  over  me  at  a  distance,  what  may  it  be  near  by  1  Could 
I  refuse  to  follow  him,  if  he  should  ask  me  face  to  face,  as 
we  now  are  1 " 

"Avoid  him,  then." 

"  Stay  here,  as  in  a  prison  !  Never  look  out  of  doors  for 
fear  of  seeing  him  whom  I  confess  I  so  love !  And  then, 
the  music,  marching,  banquets  :  shall  I  lose  them,  and  for 
such  a  cause  1 " 

"Nenetzin,  the  strangers  will  not  abide  here  in  peace. 
War  there  will  be.  The  gods  have  so  declared,  and  in  every 
temple  preparation  is  now  going  on." 

"  Who  told  you  so  ]  "  the  girl  asked,  tremulously. 

"  This  morning  I  was  in  the  garden,  culling  flowers.  I 
met  Mualox.  He  seemed  sad.  I  saluted  him,  and  gave 
12*  K 


274  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


him  the  sweetest  of  my  collection,  and  said  something  about 
them  as  a  cure  for  ills  of  the  mind.  '  Thank  you,  daughter,' 
he  said,  '  the  ills  I  mourn  are  your  father's.  If  you  can  get 
him  to  forego  his  thoughts  of  war  against  Malinche,  do  so 
at  any  price.  If  flowers  influence  him,  come  yourself,  and 
bring  your  maidens,  and  gather  them  all  for  him.  Leave  not 
a  bud  in  the  garden.'  'Is  he  so  bent  on  war]'  I  asked. 
'  That  is  he.  In  the  temples  every  hand  is  making  ready.' 
'  But  my  father  counsels  otherwise.'  The  old  man  shook  his 
head.  '  I  know  every  purpose  of  his  soul.'  " 

"  And  is  that  all  1 "  asked  Nenetzin. 

"  No.  Have  you  not  heard  what  took  place  in  the  tian- 
guez  this  morning  1 " 

And  Tula  told  of  the  appearance  of  the  horse  and  the 
stranger's  head ;  how  nobody  knew  who  placed  them  there  ; 
how  they  were  thought  to  have  come  from  HuitziT,  and 
with  what  design  ;  and  how  the  wish  for  war  was  spread, 
until  the  beggars  in  the  street  were  clamoring.  "  "War  there 
will  be,  0  my  sister,  right  around  us.  Our  father  will  lead 
the  companies  against  Malinche.  The  'tzin,  Cuitlahua,  Io', 
and  all  we  love  best  of  our  countrymen  will  take  part. 
O  Nenetzin,  of  the  children  of  the  Sun,  will  you  alone 
side  with  the  strangers  1  Tonatiah  may  slay  our  great 
father." 

"  And  yet  I  would  go  with  him,"  the  girl  said,  slowly, 
and  with  sobs. 

"Then  you  are  not  an  Aztec,"  cried  Tula,  pushing  her 
away. 

Nenetzin  stepped  back  speecliless,  and  throwing  her  scarf 
over  her  head,  turned  to  go. 

The  elder  sister  sprang  up,  conscience-struck,  and  caught 
her.  "  Pardon,  JSTenetzin.  I  did  not  know  what  I  was  say 
ing.  Stay  —  " 

"  Not  now.     I  cannot  help  loving  the  stranger." 


ENNUYE  IN  THE  OLD  PALACE.  275 

"  The  love  shall  not  divide  us ;  we  are  sisters ! "  And  Tula 
clung  to  her  passionately. 

"  Too  late,  too  late  ! "  sobbed  Nenetzin. 

And  she  passed  out  the  door ;  the  curtain  dropped  behind 
her ;  and  Tula  went  to  the  couch,  and  wept  as  if  her  heart 
were  breaking. 

Not  yet  have  all  the  modes  in  which  ills  of  state  become 
ills  of  society  been  written. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

BNNUYE   IN    THE   OLD    PALACE. 

"  "TpATHER,  holy  father  !  — and  by  my  sword,  as  belted 
JD  knight,  Olmedo,  I  call  thee  so  in  love  and  honor,  — 
I  have  heard  thee  talk  in  learned  phrase  about  the  saints, 
and  quote  the  sayings  of  monks,  mere  makers  of  books, 
which  I  will  swear  are  for  the  most  part  dust,  or,  at 
least,  not  half  so  well  preserved  as  the  bones  of  their 
scribblers,  —  I  say  I  have  thus  heard  thee  talk  and  quote  for 
hours  at  a  time,  until  I  have  come  to  think  thy  store  of 
knowledge  is  but  jargon  of  that  kind.  Shake  thy  head ! 
Jargon,  I  say  a  second  time." 

"  It  is  knowledge  that  leadeth  to  righteousness.  Bien 
quisto  !  Thou  wouldst  do  well  to  study  it,"  replied  the 
padre,  curtly. 

A  mocking  smile  curled  the  red-haired  lip  of  the  cavalier. 
"  Knowledge  truly  !  I  recollect  hearing  the  Senor  Hernan 
once  speak  of  thee.  He  said  thou  wert  to  him  a  magazine, 
full  of  learning  precious  as  breadstuffs." 

"  Eight,  my  son !  Breadstuffs  for  the  souls  of  sinners 
irreverent  as  —  " 


276  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Out  with  it ! " 

"  As  then." 

"  Picaro  !  Only  last  night  thou  didst  absolve  me,  and, 
by  the  Palmer-ins,  I  have  just  told  my  beads !  " 

"  I  think  I  have  heard  of  the  Palmerins,"  said  the  priest, 
gravely ;  "  indeed,  I  am  certain  of  it  ;  but  I  never  heard 
of  them  as  things  to  swear  by  before.  Hast  thou  a  license 
as  coiner  of  oaths  1 " 

"  Cierto,  father,  thou  dost  remind  me  of  my  first  purpose ; 
which  was  to  test  thy  knowledge  of  matters,  both  ancient 
and  serious,  outside  of  what  thou  callest  the  sermons  of  the 
schoolmen.  And  I  will  not  take  thee  at  disadvantage.  0 
no  !  If  I  would  play  fairly  with  the  vilest  heathen,  and 
slay  him  with  none  but  an  honest  trick  of  the  sword,  surely 
I  cannot  less  with  thee." 

"  Slay  me  ! " 

"  That  will  I,  —  in  a  bout  at  dialectics.  I  will  be  fair,  I 
say.  I  will  begin  by  taking  thee  in  a  field  which  every 
knight  hath  traversed,  if,  perchance,  he  hath  advanced  so  far 
in  clerkliness  as  to  read,  —  a  field  divided  between  heralds, 
troubadours,  and  poets,  and  not  forbidden  to  monks  ;  with 
which  thou  shouldst  be  well  acquainted,  seeing  that,  of  late 
days  at  least,  thou  hast  been  more  prone  to  knightly  than 
saintly  association  !  " 

"  Santa  Maria  !  "  said  Olmedo,  crossing  himself.  "  It  is 
our  nature  to  be  prone  to  things  sinful." 

"  I  smell  the  cloister  in  thy  words.  Have  at  thee  !  Stay 
thy  steps." 

The  two  had  been  pacing  the  roof  of  the  palace  during  the 
foregoing  passage.  Both  stopped  now,  and  Alvarado  said, 
"  Firstly,  —  nay,  I  will  none  of  that ;  numbering  the  heads 
of  a  discourse  is  a  priestly  trick.  To  begin,  by  my  con 
science  !  —  ho,  father,  that  oath  offends  thee  not,  for  it  is  the 
Seuor  Hernan's,  and  by  him  thou  art  thyself  always  ready 
to  swear." 


ENNUY^  IN  THE  OLD  PALACE.  277 

"  If  thou  wouldst  not  get  lost  in  a  confusion  of  ideas,  to 
tliy  purpose  quickly." 

"  Tliank  th.ee.     Who  was  Amadis  de  Gaul  1 " 

"  Hero  of  the  oldest  Spanish  poem." 

"  Eight !  "  said  the  knight,  stroking  his  beard.  "  And 
who  was  Oriana  1 " 

"  Heroine  of  the  same  story ;  more  particularly,  daughter 
of  Lisuarte,  King  of  England." 

"  Thou  didst  reprove  me  for  swearing  by  the  Palmerins  ; 
who  were  they  1 " 

"  Famous  knights,  who  founded  chivalry  by  going  about 
slaying  dragons,  working  charities,  and  overthrowing  armies 
of  heathen,  for  the  Mother's  sake." 

"  Excellently  answered,  by  my  troth  !  I  will  have  to  lead 
thee  into  deeper  water.  Pass  we  the  stories  of  Ruy  Diaz, 
and  Del  Carpio,  and  Pelayo.  I  will  even  grant  that  thou 
hast  heard  of  Hernan  Gonzales ;  but  canst  thou  tell  in  how 
many  ballads  his  prowess  hath  been  sung  ]  " 

Olmedo  was  silent. 

"  Already  !  "  cried  Alvarado,  exultant.  "  Already  !  By 
the  cross  on  my  sword,  I  have  heard  of  thirty.  But  to  pro 
ceed.  Omitting  Eoland,  and  Roncesvalles,  and  the  brethren 
of  the  Bound  Table,  canst  thou  tell  me  of  the  Seven  Lords 
of  Lares?" 

"  No.  But  there  is  a  Lord  of  whom  I  can  tell  thee,  and 
of  whom  it  will  be  far  more  profitable  for  thee  to  inquire." 

"  I  knew  a  minstrel  —  a  rare  fellow  —  who  had  a  won 
drous  voice  and  memory,  and  who  sang  fifteen  songs  all 
about  the  Lords  of  Lares ;  and  he  told  me  there  were  as 
many  more.  O,  for  the  time  of  the  true  chivalry,  when  our 
Spanish  people  were  song-lovers,  and  honor  was  of  higher 
esteem  than  gold !  In  one  respect,  Olmedo,  I  am  more 
Moslem  than  Christian." 

The  padre  crossed  himself. 


278  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


"  Mahomet  —  so  saith  history  —  taught  his  warriors  that 
Paradise  lieth  in  the  shade  of  crossing  scimitars,  —  as  unlike 
thy  doctrine  as  a  stone  is  unlike  a  plum.  Picaro  !  It 
pleaseth  me ;  it  hardeneth  the  heart  and  grip  ;  it  is  more 
inspiring  than  clarions  and  drums." 

Olmedo  looked  into  the  blue  eyes  of  the  knight,  now  un- 
hisually  bright,  and  said,  "  Thou  didst  jest  at  my  knowledge ; 
now  I  ask  thee,  son,  is  it  not  better  to  have  a  mind  full  of 
saintly  lore  than  one  which  nothing  holds  but  swords  and 
lances  and  high-bred  steeds'?  What  dost  thou  know  but 
war?" 

"  The  taste  of  good  wine,"  said  Alvarado,  seriously ;  "  and 
by  Sta.  Agnes,  holy  father,  I  would  I  had  my  canteen  full ; 
the  smoke  from  these  dens  is  turning  me  into  a  Dutch  sau 
sage.  Look  to  the  towers  of  yon  temple,  —  the  great  one 
just  before  us.  How  the  clouds  ascending  from  them  poison 
the  morning  air !  When  my  sword  is  at  the  throats  of  the 
fire-keepers,  Heaven  help  me  to  slay  them ! " 

Alvarado  then  took  the  tassels  of  the  cord  around  the  good 
man's  waist,  and  pulled  him  forward.  "  Come  briskly, 
father  !  This  roof  is  all  the  field  left  us  for  exercise ;  and 
much  do  I  fear  that  we  will  dream  many  times  of  green 
meadows  before  we  see  them  again."  Half  dragging  him, 
the  knight  lengthened  his  strides.  "  Step  longer,  father  ! 
Thou  dost  mince  the  pace,  like  a  woman." 

"  Hands  off,  irreverent !  "  cried  the  padre,  holding  back. 
"  My  feet  are  not  iron-shod,  like  thine." 

"  What !  Didst  thou  not  climb  the  mountains  on  the 
way  hither  barefooted  1  And  dost  now  growl  at  these  tiles  1 
Last  night  Sandoval  shod  his  mare,  the  gay  Motilla,  with 
silver,  which  he  swore  was  cheaper,  if  not  better,  than  iron. 
When  next  we  take  a  morning  trot,  like  this,  cierto,  I  will 
borrow  two  of  the  precious  shoes  for  thee." 

Olmedo's  gown,  of  coarse,  black  woollen  serge,  was  not  a 


ENNUYE"  IN  THE  OLD  PALACE.  279 

garment  a  Greek,  preparing  for  a  race,  would  have  chosen ; 
the  long  skirts  hampered  his  legs  ;  he  stumbled,  and  would 
have  fallen,  but  for  his  tormentor. 

"  Stay  thee,  father  !  Hast  been  drinking  1  Not  here 
shouldst  thou  kneel  unless  in  prayer  ;  and  for  that,  bethink 
thee,  house-tops  are  for  none  but  Jews."  And  the  rough 
knight  laughed  heartily.  "  Nay,  talking  will  tire  thee,"  he 
continued.  "  Take  breath  first.  If  my  shield  were  at  hand, 
I  would  fan  thee.  Or  wouldst  thou  prefer  to  sit  1  or  bet 
ter  still,  to  lie  down  1  Do  so,  if  thou  wouldst  truly  oblige 
me ;  for,  by  my  conscience,  as  Cortes  sweareth,  I  have  not 
done  testing  thy  knowledge  of  worthy  things  outside  the 
convent  libraries.  I  will  take  thee  into  a  new  field,  and  ask 
of  the  Moorish  lays  ;  for,  as  thou  shouldst  know,  if  thou 
dost  not,  they  have  had  their  minstrels  and  heroes  as  fanciful 
and  valiant  as  infidels  ever  were  ;  in  truth,  but  little  inferior 
to  the  best  of  old  Castile." 

Olmedo  attempted  to  speak. 

"  Open  not  thy  mouth,  father,  except  to  breathe.  I  will 
talk  until  thy  tire  is  over.  I  was  on  the  Moors.  A  fine 
race  they  were,  bating  always  their  religion.  Of  their  songs, 
thou  hast  probably  heard  that  mournful  roundelay,  the  Loves 
of  Gazul  and  Abindarraez  ;  probably  listened  to  Tales  of  the 
Arabian  Nights,  or  to  verses  celebrating  the  tournaments  in 
the  Bivarrambla.  Certainly,  thou  hast  heard  recitals  of  the 
rencontres,  scimitar  in  hand,  between  the  Zegris  and  Aben- 
cerrages.  By  Sta.  Agnes  !  they  have  had  warriors  fit  for  the 
noblest  songs.  At  least,  father,  thou  knowest  —  "  He  stopped 
abruptly,  while  a  lad  mounted  the  roof  and  approached  them, 
cap  in  hand. 

"  Excellent  Senor,  so  it  please  thee,  my  master  hath  some 
what  to  say  to  thee  in  his  chamber  below.  And  "  —  cross 
ing  himself  to  Olmedo  —  "if  the  holy  father  will  remember 
me  in  his  next  prayer,  I  will  tell  him  that  Bernal  Diaz  is 
looking  for  him." 


280  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Doth  thy  master  want  me  also  ?  " 

"  That  is  Diaz's  massage." 

"  What  can  be  in  the  wind  now  1  "  asked  Alvarado,  mush 


"  Hadst  thou  asked  me  that  question  —  " 

"  Couldst  thou  have  answered  ?  Take  the  chance  !  What 
dotli  thy  master  intend  1  " 

"  Look,  Don  Pedro,  and  thou,  good  father,"  replied  the 
page  ;  "  look  to  the  top  of  yon  pile  so  ridiculously  called  a 
temple  of  — 

"  Speak  it,  as  thou  lovest  me,"  cried  Alvarado. 

"  "Wilt  thou  pronounce  it  after  me  ]  " 

"  That  will  I  ;  though,  cierto,  I  will  not  promise  my  horse 
if  I  fail." 

"  Huitzilpotchli"  said  the  "boy,  slowly. 

"  The  saints  defend  us  !  "  exclaimed  the  knight,  crossing 
himself.  "  Where  didst  thou  get  so  foul  a  name  ]  " 

"  Of  the  Dona  Marina.  Well,  the  Senor  Hernan,  my 
master,  designeth  visiting  those  towers,  and  seeing  what  hor 
rors  they  hold." 

Olmedo's  countenance  became  unusually  grave.  "  Holy 
Mother,  keep  his  temper  in  check,  that  nothing  rash  be 
done  !  " 

Alvarado  received  the  news  differently.  "  Thou  art  a  good 
boy,  Orteguilla,"  he  said.  "  I  owe  thee  a  ducat.  Remind 
me  of  the  debt  when  next  thou  seest  me  with  gold.  Espiritu 
Santo  !  Now  will  I  take  the  rust  out  of  my  knees,  and  the 
dull  out  of  my  head,  and  the  spite  from  my  stomach  !  Now 
will  I  give  my  sword,  that  hath  hungered  so  long,  to  surfeit 
on  the  heart-eaters  !  Bien  Quisto  !  What  jargon  didst  thou 
use  a  moment  ago  when  speaking  of  the  temple  !\  " 

"  Huitzilpotchli,"  said  the  boy,  laughing. 

"  Murrain  take  the  idol,  if  only  for  his  name's  sake  J 
Come  j  we  shall  have  a  good  time." 


ENNUYE  IN  THE  OLD  PALACE.  281 

The  knight  turned  to  descend.  Orteguilla  caught  him  by 
the  mantle.  "  A  word,  Don  Pedro." 

"  Picaro  !     A  thousand  of  them,  quickly  !  " 

"  Thou  didst  promise  me  a  ducat  —  " 

"  Truly,  and  thou  shalt  have  it.  Only  wait  till  the  division 
cometh,  and  thy  master  saith  to  me,  '  Take  thy  share.'  " 

"  Thou  hearest,  father  ?  " 

"  How  !     Dost  doubt  me  1 " 

The  boy  stepped  back.  "  No.  Alvarado's  promise  is  good 
against  the  world.  But  dost  thou  not  think  the  Senor  Her- 
nan  will  attack  the  temple  ]  " 

"  Cierto,  with  horse,  foot,  guns,  Tlascalans,  and  all." 

"  He  goeth  merely  on  a  visit,  and  by  invitation  of  Monte- 
zuma,  the  king." 

Olmedo's  face  relaxed,  and  he  rubbed  his  hands  ;  but  the 
captain  said,  dismally,  "  By  invitation  !  Picaro  !  Instead 
of  the  ducat,  that  for  thy  news  ! "  And  he  struck  open- 
handedly  at  the  page,  but  with  such  good-will  that  the 
latter  gave  him  wide  margin  the  rest  of  the  day. 


282  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


CHAPTER  V. 

ALVABADO   FINDS    THE   LIGHT    OF   THE   WORLD. 


was  a  bluster  of  trumpets  and  drums,  and  out 
JL  of  the  main  gate  of  the  palace  in  which  he  was  lodged, 
under  the  eyes  of  a  concourse  of  spectators  too  vast  to  be 
nearly  estimated,  Cortes  marched  with  the  greater  part  of  his 
Christians.  The  column  was  spirited,  even  brilliant.  Good 
steeds  had  improved  with  rest  ;  while  good  fare,  not  to  speak 
of  the  luxury  of  royal  baths,  had  reconstituted  both  footmen 
and  riders.  At  the  head,  as  guides,  walked  four  commis 
sioners  of  the  king,  —  stately  men,  gorgeous  in  escaupiles  and 
plumed  helms. 

The  Spaniards  were  full  of  glee,  vented  broad  exaggera 
tions,  and  manifested  the  abandon  I  have  seen  in  sailors 
ashore  the  first  time  after  a  long  voyage. 

"  Be  done,  good  horse  !  "  said  Sandoval  to  Motilla,  whose 
blood  warmed  under  the  outcry  of  trumpet  and  clarion. 
"Be  done!" 

Montejo  laughed.  "  Chide  her  not  !  She  feels  the  silver 
on  her  heels  as  a  fine  lady  the  ribbons  on  her  head." 

"  No,"  said  Alvarado,  laying  his  lance  half  in  rest,  "  Mo 
tilla  is  a  Christian,  and  the  scent  of  the  pagan  is  in  her 
nostrils." 

"  Up  with  thy  lance,  Senor  Capitan  1  The  guides,  if  they 
were  to  look  back,  would  leave  us  without  so  much  as  good 
day." 

"  Cierto,  thou  'rt  right  !  But  how  pleasant  it  would  be  to 
impale  two  of  them  at  once  !  " 

"  Such  thy  speculation  ?  I  cannot  believe  thee.  I  have 
been  thy  comrade  too  long,"  said  Leon,  gravely. 


ALVARADO  FINDS  THE  LIGHT  OF  THE  WORLD.      283 

Alvarado  turned  curtly,  as  if  to  say,  "  Explain  thyself." 

"  The  gold  in  their  ears  and  on  their  wrists,  Serlor,  — 
there  were  thine  eyes.  And  thou  didst  look  as  if  summing 
up,  —  ear-rings,  four  ;  bracelets,  six  ;  sundries,  three ;  total, 
thirteen  ounces  pure.  Confess  thee,  confess  thee  !  " 

The  laugh  was  loud  and  long. 

I  have  already  given  the  reader  an  idea  of  the  tianguez,  or 
market,  whither  Cortes,  by  request,  was  first  conducted.  It 
is  sufficient  to  say  now,  that  the  exhibition  of  the  jewellers 
attracted  most  attention ;  in  front  of  their  booths  many  of 
the  footmen  actually  broke  ranks,  determined  to  satisfy 
themselves  if  all  they  there  saw  was  indeed  of  the  royal 
metal.  Years  after,  they  vaunted  the  sight  as  something 
surpassing  all  the  cities  of  Europe  could  display. 

Cortes  occupied  himself  questioning  the  guides  ;  for  which 
purpose  Marina  was  brought  forward.  Nothing  of  impor 
tance  escaped  him. 

At  one  of  the  corners,  while  the  interpreter  was  in  the 
midst  of  a  reply,  Cortes'  horse  suddenly  stopped,  startled 
by  an  obstacle  in  the  way.  Scarcely  a  lance-length  off, 
pictures  of  terror,  stood  four  slaves,  richly  liveried,  and 
bearing  a  palanquin  crowned  by  a  green  panache. 

"  By  Our  Lady,  I  will  see  what  is  here  contained  !  " 

So  saying,  Alvarado  spurred  impetuously  forward.  The 
guides  threw  themselves  in  his  way  ;  he  nearly  rode  one  of 
them  down  ;  and,  laughing  at  the  fright  of  the  slaves,  he 
drew  aside  the  curtain  of  the  carriage,  and  peered  in. 

"  Jesu ! "  he  cried,  dropping  the  cloth,  and  reining  his 
horse  back. 

"  Hast  thou  the  fiend  there  ?  Or  only  a  woman  1 "  asked 
Cortes. 

"  A  paragon,  an  houri,  your  excellency  !  What  a  rude 
fellow  I  have  been  !  She  is  frightened.  Come  hither,  Ma 
rina.  Say  to  the  girl  —  " 


284  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Not  now,  not  now  !  "  said  Cortes,  abruptly.  "  If  slie 
is  pretty,  thou  wilt  see  her  again." 

Alvarado  frowned. 

"  What !  angry  ? "  continued  the  general.  "  Out  on  thee, 
captain !  How  can  an  untaught  infidel,  though  paragon 
and  houri,  understand  knightly  phrases  1  What  the  merit 
of  an  apology  in  her  eyes  1  Pass  on  !  " 

"  Perhaps  thou  'rt  right.  Stand  aside  !  Out  of  the  way 
there  !  "  And  as  if  to  make  amends,  he  cleared  a  passage  for 
the  slaves  and  their  burden. 

"  To  the  devil  all  of  ye  !  "  he  replied,  to  the  laughter  of 
his  comrades.  "  Ye  did  not  see  her,  nor  know  ye  if  she  is 
old  or  young,  harridan  or  angel." 

From  the  market,  the  column  marched  back  to  the  great 
temple,  with  which,  as  it  rose,  broad  and  high,  like  a  ter 
raced  hill,  between  the  palace  they  occupied  and  the  sun  at 
rising,  they  were  somewhat  familiar.  Yet,  when  fairly  in 
view  of  the  pile,  Cortes  called  Olmedo  to  his  side. 

"  I  thank  thee,  Father  Bartolome.  That  thou  art  near,  I 
feel  better.  A  good  surcoat  and  shield,  as  thou  knowest, 
give  a  soldier  confidence  in  battle ;  and  so,  as  I  come  nigh 
yon  abomination,  full  of  bloody  mysteries,  called  worship, 
and  carven  stones,  called  gods,  —  may  they  be  accursed  from 
the  earth !  —  I  am  pleased  to  make  use  of  thee  and  thy 
holiness.  Doubtless  the  air  of  the  place  is  thick  with  sor 
ceries  and  evil  charms ;  if  so,  thy  crucifix  hath  more  of  safe 
guard  than  my  sword.  Ride  nearer,  father,  and  hearken, 
that  thou  mayst  answer  what  more  I  have  to  say.  Would 
not  this  pile  look  the  better  of  a  cross  upon  every  tower  ? " 

"  Thy  zeal,  my  son,  I  commend,  and  thy  question  strictly 
hath  but  one  answer,"  Olmedo  replied.  "  The  impulse, 
moreover,  is  to  do  at  once  what  thou  hast  suggested.  Roll 
away  a  stone,  and  in  its  bed  plant  a  rose,  and  the  blooming 
will  be  never  so  sweet ;  and  so,  never  looketh  the  cross  so 


ALVARADO  FINDS  THE  LIGHT  OF  THE  WORLD.      285 

beautiful  as  when  it  taketh  the  place  of  an  idol.  And  for  the 
conversion  of  heathen,  the  Holy  Mother  careth  not  if  the 
worship  be  under  Christian  dome  or  in  pagan  chamber." 

"  Say'st  thou  so  !  "  said  Cortes,  checking  his  horse.  "  By 
my  conscience,  I  will  order  a  cross  ! " 

"Be  not  so  fast,  I  pray  you.  What  armed  hand  now 
putteth  up,  armed  hand  must  keep ;  and  that  is  war.  May 
not  the  good  end  be  reached  without  such  resort  1  In  my 
judgment  we  should  first  consult  the  heathen  king.  How 
knowest  thou  that  he  is  not  already  inclined  to  Christian 
ways  1  Let  us  ask  him." 

Cortes  relaxed  the  rein,  and  rode  on  convinced. 

Through  the  gate  of  the  coatapantli,  amid  much  din  and 
clangor,  the  entire  colu'mn  entered  the  yard  of  the  temple. 
On  a  pavement,  glassy^smooth,  and  spotless  as  a  good  house 
wife's  floor,  the  horsemen  dismounted,  and  the  footmen  stood 
at  rest.  Then  Cortes,  with  his  captains  and  Marina,  ap 
proached  the  steps,  where  he  was  received  by  some  pabas, 
who  offered  to  carry  him  to  the  azoteas,  —  a  courtesy  he 
declined  with  many  protestations  of  thanks. 

At  the  top,  under  a  green  canopy,  and  surrounded  by 
courtiers  and  attendants,  Montezuma  stood,  in  the  robes  of 
a  priest,  and  with  only  his  sceptre  to  indicate  his  royalty. 

"  You  have  my  welcome,  Malinche.  The  ascent  is  weari 
some.  Where  are  the  pabas  whom  I  sent  to  assist  you  1 " 

The  monarch's  simple  dignity  affected  his  visitors,  Cortes 
as  much  as  the  others. 

"  I  accept  thy  welcome,  good  king,"  he  replied,  after  the 
interpretation.  "  Assure  thyself  that  it  is  given  to  a  friend. 
The  priests  proffered  their  service  as  you  directed ;  they  said 
your  custom  was  to  be  carried  up  the  steps,  which  I  grant 
accords  with  a  sovereign,  but  not  with  a  warrior,  who  should 
be  superior  to  fatigue." 

To  favor  a  view  of  the  city,  which  was  after  a  while  sug- 


286  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


gested,  the  king  conducted  Cortes  to  the  southern  side  of 
the  azoteas,  where  were  also  presented  a  great  part  of  the  lake, 
bordered  with  white  towns,  and  the  valley  stretching  away 
to  the  purple  sierras.  The  train  followed  them  with  mats  and 
stools,  and  erected  the  canopy  to  intercept  the  sun;  and 
thus  at  ease,  the  host  explained,  and  the  guest  listened. 
Often,  during  the  descriptions,  the  monarch's  eyes  rested 
wistfully  on  his  auditor's  face ;  what  he  sought,  we  can 
imagine;  but  well  I  ween  there  was  more  revelation  in  a 
cloudy  sky  than  in  that  bloodless  countenance.  The  de 
meanor  of  the  Spaniard  was  courtierly ;  he  failed  not  to 
follow  every  gesture  of  the  royal  hand  ;  and  if  the  meaning 
of  what  he  heard  was  lost  because  of  the  strange  language, 
the  voice  was  not.  In  the  low,  sad  intonations,  unmarked  by 
positive  emphasis,  he  divined  more  than  the  speaker  read 
in  his  face,  —  a  soul  goodly  in  all  but  its  irresolution.  If 
now  and  then  the  grave  attention  relaxed,  or  the  eye  wan 
dered  from  the  point  indicated,  it  was  because  the  city 
and  lake,  and  the  valley  to  the  mountains,  were,  in  the 
visitor's  mind,  more  a  military  problem  than  a  picture  of 
power  or  beauty. 

The  interview  was  at  length  interrupted.  Two  great 
towers  crowned  the  broad  azoteas  of  the  temple,  one  dedi 
cated  to  Tezca',  the  other  to  Huitzil'.  Out  of  the  door  of 
the  latter  issued  a  procession  of  pabas,  preceded  by  boys 
swinging  censers,  the  smoke  of  which  was  sickening  sweet. 
Tlalac,  the  teotuctli,  came  last,  walking  slowly,  bareheaded, 
barefooted,  his  gown  trailing  behind  him,  its  sleeves  and 
front,  like  his  hands  and  face,  red  with  the  blood  of  recent 
sacrifice.  While  the  gloomy  train  gathered  about  the  aston 
ished  Christians,  the  heathen  pontiff,  as  if  unconscious  of 
their  presence,  addressed  himself  to  the  king.  His  words 
were  afterwards  translated  by  Marina. 

"  To  your  application,  0  king,  there  is  no  answer.     What 


ALVARADO  FINDS  THE  LIGHT   OF  THE  WORLD.       287 

you  do  will  be  of  your  own  inspiration.  The  victims  are 
removed;  the  servants  of  the  god,  save  whom  you  see, 
are  in  their  cells.  If  such  be  thy  will,  the  chamber  is  ready 
for  the  strangers." 

Montezuma  sat  a  moment  hesitant,  his  color  coming  and 
going ;  then,  feeling  the  gaze  of  his  guest  upon  him,  he 
arose,  and  said  kindly,  but  with  dignity,  "It  is  well.  I 
thank  you."  Turning  to  Cortes,  he  continued,  "  If  you5  Vill 
go  with  me,  Malinche,  I  will  show  you  our  god,  and  the 
place  in  which  we  celebrate  his  worship.  I  will  explain  our 
religion,  and  you  may  explain  yours.  Only  give  me  respect 
for  respect." 

Bowing  low,  Cortes  replied,  "  I  will  go  with  thee,  and 
thou  shalt  suffer  no  wrong  from  the  confidence.  The  hand 
or  tongue  that  doeth  grievance  to  anything  pertaining  to  thy 
god  or  his  worship  shall  repeat  it  never."  The  last  sentence 
was  spoken  with  a  raised  voice,  and  a  glance  to  the  captains 
around;  then,  observing  the  frowns  with  which  some  of 
them  received  the  notice,  he  added,  almost  without  a  pause, 
to  Olmedo,  "  What  saith  the  Church  of  Christ  ] " 

"  That  thou  hast  spoken  well,  for  this  time,"  answered 
the  priest,  kissing  the  crucifix  chained  to  his  girdle.  "  Go 
on.  I  will  go  with  thee." 

Then  they  followed  the  king  into  the  sanctuary,  leaving 
the  teotuctli  and  his  train  on  the  azoteas. 

I  turn  gladly  from  that  horrible  chamber.  "With  quite  as 
much  satisfaction,  I  turn  from  the  conversation  of  the  king 
and  Cortes.  Not  even  the  sweet  voice  of  Marina  could 
make  the  Aztec  theogony  clear,  or  the  Catholic  commentary 
of  the  Spaniard  interesting. 

Alvarado  approached  the  turret  door  with  loathing.  Stag 
gered  by  the  stench  that  smote  him  from  within,  he  stopped 
a  moment.  Orteguilla,  the  page,  pulled  his  mantle,  and 
said,  "  I  have  news  for  thee.  Wilt  thou  hear  1 " 


288  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Picaro !  To-morrow,  if  the  Mother  doth  spare  me  so 
long,  I  will  give  thee  a  lash  for  every  breath  of  this  sin-laden 
air  thou  makest  me  draw  with  open  mouth.  As  thou  lovest 
life,  speak,  and  have  done  !  " 

"  What  if  I  bring  thee  a  message  of  love  1 " 

"  If  thou  couldst  bring  me  such  a  message  from  a  comely 
Christian  maiden,  I  would  kiss  thee,  lad." 

Orteguilla  held  out  an  exquisite  ramillete.  "  Seest  thou 
this  1  If  thou  carest  and  wilt  follow  me,  I  will  show  thee 
an  infidel  to  swear  by  forever." 

"  Give  me  the  flowers,  and  lead  me  to  the  infidel.  If 
thou  speakest  truly,  thy  fortune  is  made ;  if  thou  liest,  I 
will  fling  thee  from  the  temple." 

He  turned  from  the  door,  and  was  conducted  to  the  shade 
of  the  turret  of  Tezca'. 

"  I  was  loitering  after  the  tall  priest,  the  one  with  the 
bloody  face  and  hands,  —  what  a  monster  he  is  ! "  said  the 
page,  crossing  himself,  —  "  when  a  slave  came  in  my  way, 
offering  some  flowers,  and  making  signs.  I  spoke  to  him. 
'  What  do  you  want  1 '  '  Here  is  a  message  from  the  prin 
cess  Nenetzin.'  'Who  is  she?"  'Daughter  of  the  great 
king.'  '  Well,  what  did  she  say  1 '  '  She  bade  me '  —  and, 
senor  capitan,  these  are  almost  his  words,  — '  she  bade  me 
give  these  flowers  to  one  of  the  teules,  that  he  might  give 
them  to  Tonatiah,  him  with  the  red  beard.'  I  took  the  pres 
ent,  and  asked,  '  What  does  the  princess  say  to  the  Tonatiah?1 
'  Let  him  read  the  flowers,'  the  fellow  answered.  I  remem 
bered  then  that  it  is  a  custom  of  this  people  to  send  mes 
sages  in  that  form.  I  asked  him  where  his  mistress  was  j 
he  told  me,  and  I  went  to  see  her." 

"What  of  her?     Is  she  handsome?" 

"  Here  she  is ;  judge  thou.  " 

"  Holy  Mother !  'T  is  the  girl  I  so  frightened  on  the 
itreet.  She  is  the  pearl  of  the  valley,  th»  light  of  the 


ALVARADO  FINDS  THE  LIGHT  OF  THE  WORLD.      289 

world  !  "  exclaimed  Alvarado.  "  Stay  thou,  sir  page.  In 
terpret  for  me.  I  will  speak  to  her." 

"  Simply,  then.  Thou  knowest  I  am  not  so  good  an 
Aztec  as  Marina." 

Nenetzin  was  sitting  in  the  shade  of  the  turret.  Apart 
several  paces  stood  her  carriage-bearers.  Her  garments  of 
finest  cotton,  white  as  snow,  were  held  close  to  her  waist  by 
a  green  sash.  Her  ornaments  —  necklace,  bracelets,  and 
anklets  —  were  of  gold,  enriched  by  chalchuites.  Softest  san 
dals  protected  her  feet ;  and  the  long  scarf,  heavy  with  em 
broidery,  and  half  covering  her  face,  fell  from  her  head  to 
the  mat  of  scarlet  feathers  upon  which  she  was  sitting. 

When  the  tall  Spaniard,  in  full  armor,  except  the  helmet, 
stopped  thus  suddenly  before  her,  the  large  eyes  dilated,  the 
blood  left  her  cheeks,  and  she  shrank  almost  to  the  roof. 
Was  it  not  as  if  the  dream,  so  strange  in  the  coming,  had 
vitalized  its  subject,  and  sent  it  to  her,  a  Fate  the  more  irre 
sistible  because  of  its  peculiarities,  —  the  blue  eyes,  the  fore 
head  womanly  white,  the  hair  long  and  waving,  the  beard 
dyed,  apparently,  in  the  extremest  brightness  of  the  sun,  —  all 
so  unheard  of  among  the  brown  and  olive  children  of  Ana- 
huac  1  And  what  if  the  Fate  had  come  demandingly  ?  Re 
fuse  !  Can  the  chrysalis,  joyous  in  the  beauty  of  wings 
just  perfected,  refuse  the  sun  ? 

The  cavalier  could  not  mistake  the  look  with  which  she 
regarded  him.  In  pity  for  her  fear,  in  admiration  of  her 
beauty,  in  the  native  gallantry  of  his  soul,  he  knelt,  and 
took  her  hand,  and  kissed  it ;  then,  giving  it  back,  and  look-, 
ing  into  her  face  with  an  expression  as  unmistakable  as  her 
own,  he  said,  — 

"  My  beautiful  princess  must  not  be  afraid.  I  would  die 
sooner  than  harm  her." 

While  the  page  interpreted,  as  best  he  could,  the  captain 
smiled  so  winsomely  that  she  sat  up,  and  listened  with  a 
13  • 


290  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


smile  in  return.  She  was  won,  and  shall  we  say  lostl 
The  future  com.es  rapidly  now  to  answer  for  itself. 

"  Here  is  the  message,"  Alvarado  continued.  "  which  I 
could  not  read;  but  if  it  meant  to  tell  rue  of  love,  what 
better  can  I  than  give  it  back  to  tell  the  same  story  for 
me?" 

He  kissed  the  flowers,  and  laid  them  before  her.  Picking 
them  up,  she  said,  with  a  laugh,  "  Tonatiah  is  a  poet,  —  a 
god  and  a  poet." 

He  heard  the  interpretation,  and  spoke  again,  without  re 
laxing  his  ardent  gaze. 

"  Jesu  Christo  f  That  one  so  beautiful  should  be  an  in 
fidel  !  She  shall  not  be,  —  by  the  holy  sepulchre,  she  shall 
not !  Here,  lad,  take  off  the  chain  which  is  about  my  neck. 
It  hath  an  iron  crucifix,  the  very  same  my  mother  —  rested 
be  her  soul !  —  gave  me,  with  her  blessing  and  prayer,  what 
time  I  last  bade  her  farewell." 

Orteguilla  took  off  the  chain  and  crucifix,  and  put  them 
in  the  cavalier's  hand. 

"  Will  my  beautiful  princess  deign  to  receive  these  gifts 
from  me,  her  slave  forever  1  And  in  my  presence  will  she 
put  them  on  ?  And  for  my  sake,  will  she  always  wear  them  1 
They  have  God's  blessing,  which  cannot  be  better  bestowed." 

Instead  of  laying  the  presents  down  to  be  taken  or  not,  this 
time  he  held  them  out  to  her  directly ;  and  she  took  them,  and, 
childlike,  hung  them  around  her  neck.  In  the  act,  the  scarf 
fell,  and  left  bare  her  head  and  face.  He  saw  the  glowing 
countenance,  and  was  about  to  speak  further,  when  Orteguilla 
stopped  him. 

"  Moderate  thyself,  I  pray  thee,  Don  Pedro.  Look  at  the 
hounds ;  they  are  closing  us  in.  The  way  to  the  turret  is 
already  cut  off.  Have  a  care,  I  pray  !  " 

The  tone  of  alarm  had  instant  effect. 

"  How  !      Cut   off,   say'st   thou,   lad  1 "     And    Alvarad* 


THE  IRON  CROSS.  291 


sprang  up,  his  hand  upon  his  sword.  He  swept  the  circle 
with  a  falcon's  glance ;  then  turning  once  more  to  the  girl, 
he  said,  resuming  the  tenderness  of  voice  and  manner,  "  By 
what  name  may  I  know  my  love  hereafter  ?  " 

"  Nenetzin,  —  the  princess  Nenetzin." 

"  Then  farewell,  Nenetzin.  Ill  betide  the  man  or  fortune 
that  keepeth  thee  from  me  hereafter !  May  I  forfeit  life,  and 
the  Holy  Mother's  love,  if  I  see  thee  not  again !  Farewell." 

He  kissed  his  mailed  hand  to  her,  and,  facing  the  array  of 
scowling  pabas,  strode  to  them,  and  through  their  circle, 
with  a  laugh  of  knightly  scorn. 

At  the  door  of  the  turret  of  Huitzil'  he  said  to  the  page, 
"  The  love  of  yon  girl,  heathen  no  longer,  but  Christian,  by 
the  cross  she  weareth,  —  her  love,  and  the  brightness  of  her 
presence,  for  the  foulness  and  sin  of  this  devil's  den,  —  what 
an  exchange  !  Valgame  Dios  !  Thou  shalt  have  the  ducat. 
She  is  the  glory  of  the  world  !  " 


CHAPTER  YL 

THE   IRON    CROSS. 

"  ~1V  /f~Y  lord  Maxtla,  go  see  if  there  be  none  coming  this 

-1_VJL  way  now." 

And  while  the  chief  touched  the  ground  with  his  palm, 
the  king  added,  as  to  himself,  and  impatiently,  "  Surely  it  is 
time." 

"  Of  whom  speak  you  1 "  asked  Cuitlahua,  standing  by. 
Only  the  brother  would  have  so  presumed. 

The  monarch  looked  into  the  branches  of  the  cypress-tree 
above  him ;  he  seemed  holding  the  words  in  ear,  while  ha 
followed  a  thought. 


292  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


They  were  in  the  grove  of  Chapultepec  at  the  time.  About 
them  were  the  famous  trees,  apparently  old  as  the  hill  itself, 
with  trunks  so  massive  that  they  had  likeness  to  things  of 
cunning  labor,  products  of  some  divine  art.  The  sun  touched 
them  here  and  there  with  slanting  yellow  rays,  by  contrast 
deepening  the  shadows  that  purpled  the  air.  From  the 
gnarled  limbs  the  gray  moss  drooped,  like  listless  drapery. 
Nesting  birds  sang  from  the  topmost  boughs,  and  parrots, 
flitting  to  and  fro,  lit  the  gloaming  with  transient  gleams  of 
scarlet  and  gold  :  yet  the  effect  of  the  place  was  mysterious ; 
the  hush  of  the  solitude  softened  reflection  into  dreaming ; 
the  silence  was  a  solemn  presence  in  which  speech  sunk  to  a 
whisper,  and  laughter  would  have  been  profanation.  In  such 
primeval  temples  men  walk  with  Time,  as  in  paradise  Adam 
walked  with  God. 

"  I  am  waiting  for  the  lord  Hualpa,"  the  king  at  last  re 
plied,  turning  his  sad  eyes  to  his  brother's  face. 

"  Hualpa  !  "  said  Cuitlahua,  marvelling,  as  well  he  might, 
to  find  the  great  king  waiting  for  the  merchant's  son,  so  lately 
a  simple  hunter. 

"  Yes.  He  serves  me  in  an  affair  of  importance.  His  ap 
pointment  was  for  noon ;  he  tarries,  I  fear,  in  the  city.  Next 
time  I  will  choose  an  older  messenger." 

The  manner  of  the  explanation  was  that  of  one  who  has 
in  mind  something  of  which  he  desires  to  speak,  yet  doubts 
the  wisdom  of  speaking.  So  the  cacique  seemed  to  under 
stand,  for  he  relapsed  into  silence,  while  the  monarch  again 
looked  upwards.  Was  the  object  he  studied  in  the  sky  or  in 
his  heart? 

Maxtla  returned ;  saluting,  he  said,  "  The  lake  is  thronged 
with  canoes,  0  king,  but  none  come  this  way." 

The  sadness  of  the  royal  face  deepened. 

"  Montezuma,  my  brother,"  said  Cuitlahua, 

"WelL" 


THE  IRON  CROSS.  293 

"  Give  me  a  moment's  audience," 

"  Certainly.  The  laggard  comes  not ;  the  rest  of  the  day 
is  yours."  And  to  Maxtla  he  said,  "  In  the  palace  are  the 
queens,  and  the  princesses  Tula  and  ISTenetzin.  Inform  them 
that  I  am  coming." 

When  the  chief  was  gone,  the  monarch  turned  to  Cui- 
tlahua,  smiling  :  "  Yes,  the  rest  of  the  day  is  yours,  and  the 
night  also^j  for  I  must  wait  for  the  merchant's  son ;  and  our 
mother,  were  she  here,  would  say  it  was  good  of  you  to  share 
my  waiting." 

The  pleasantry  and  the  tender  allusion  were  hardly  ob 
served  by  the  cacique.  "  I  wished  to  call  your  attention  to 
IztliF,  the  Tezcucan,"  he  said,  gravely. 

"  Iztlil'  ?  what  of  him  now  1 " 

"  Trouble.  What  else  can  come  of  him  ?  Last  night  at 
the  house  of  Xoli,  the  Chalcan,  he  drank  too  much  pulque, 
quarrelled  with  the  good  man's  guests,  and  abused  everybody 
loyal,  —  abused  you,  my  brother.  I  sent  a  servant  to  watch 
him.  You  must  know  —  if  not,  you  should  —  that  all 
Tenochtitlan  believes  the  Tezcucan  to  be  in  alliance  with 
Malinche  and  his  robbers." 

"  Robbers  !  "  said  Montezuma,  starting. 

The  cacique  went  on.  "  That  he  has  corresponded  with 
the  Tlascalans  is  well  understood.  Only  last  night  he 
spoke  of  a  confederacy  of  tribes  and  cities  to  overturn  the 
Empire." 

"  Goes  he  so  far  1 "  exclaimed  the  king,  now  very  atten 
tive. 

"  He  is  a  traitor  !  "  replied  Cuitlahua,  emphatically.  "  So 
I  sent  a  servant  to  follow  him.  From  the  Chalcan's,  he  was 
seen  go  to  the  gates  of  the  palace  of  Axaya'.  Malinche  re 
ceived  him.  He  is  there  now." 

The  two  were  silent  awhile,  the  cacique  observing  th» 
king,  the  king  gazing  upon  the  ground. 


294  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Well,"  said  the  latter,  at  length,  "  is  that  all  1 " 

"  Is  it  not  enough  1 " 

11  You  are  right.  He  must  be  arrested.  Keep  close  watch 
on  the  gates  of  the  palace,  and  upon  his  coming  out,  seize 
him,  and  put  him  safely  away  in  the  temple." 

"  But  if  he  comes  not  out  1 " 

"  To-morrow,  at  noon,  if  he  be  yet  within,  go  to  Malinche 
and  demand  him.  Here  is  your  authority." 

At  that,  the  monarch  took  from  a  finger  of  his  left  hand  a 
ring  of  gold,  set  with  an  oval  green  malachite,  on  which  his 
likeness  was  exquisitely  cut. 

"  But,"  said  the  other,  while  the  royal  hand  was  out 
stretched,  "  if  Malinche  refuses  your  demand  ]  " 

"  Then  —  then  —  "  And  the  speaker  paused  so  long  that 
his  indecision  was  apparent. 

"  Behind  the  refusal,  —  see  you  what  lies  there  1 "  asked 
Cuitlahua,  bluntly. 

The  king  reflected. 

"  Is  it  not  war  1 "  the  cacique  persisted. 

The  hand  fell  down,  and  closed  upon  the  signet. 

"  The  demand  is  just,  and  will  not  be  refused.  Take  the 
ring,  my  brother ;  we  will  at  least  test  Malinche's  disposi 
tion.  Say  to  him  that  the  lord  IztliT  is  a  traitor ;  that  he 
is  conspiring  against  me ;  and  that  I  require  his  person  for 
punishment.  So  say  to  him  ;  but  go  not  yet.  The  messen 
ger  I  await  may  bring  me  something  to  make  your  mission 
unnecessary." 

The  cacique  smiled  grimly.  "  If  the  Tezcucan  is  guilty, 
so  is  Malinche,"  he  said.  "  Is  it  well  to  tell  him  what  you 
know  1 " 

"  Yes.  He  will  then  be  careful ;  at  least,  he  will  not  be 
deceived." 

"  Be  it  so,"  said  Cuitlahua,  taking  the  ring.  "  I  will  bring 
you  his  answer  ;  then  —  " 


THE  IRON  CROSS.  295 


"Well?" 

"  Bear  with  me,  O  king.  The  subject  I  now  wish  to  speak 
of  is  a  tender  one,  though  I  know  not  why.  To  win  the 
good- will  of  the  Tezcucan,  was  not  Guatamozin,  our  nephew, 
banished  the  city  1 " 

"  Well  1 " 

"  Now  that  the  Tezcucan  is  lost,  why  should  not  the  'tzin 
return  ?  He  is  a  happy  man,  0  my  brother,  who  discovers 
an  enemy ;  happier  is  he  who,  at  the  same  time,  discovers  a 
friend." 

Montezuma  studied  the  cacique's  face,  then,  with  his  eyes 
upon  the  ground,  walked  on.  Cuitlahua  went  with  him. 
Past  the  great  trees,  under  the  gray  moss,  up  the  hill  to  the 
summit,  and  along  the  summit  to  the  verge  of  the  rocky 
bluff,  they  went.  At  the  king's  side,  when  he  stopped,  was 
a  porphyritic  rock,  bearing,  in  bas-relief,  his  own  image,  and 
that  of  his  father.  Below  him,  westwardly,  spread  the  placid 
lake  ;  above  it,  the  setting  sun  ;  in  its  midst,  a  fair  child  on 
a  fair  mother's  breast,  Tenochtitlan. 

"  See  !  a  canoe  goes  swiftly  round  yon  chinampa  ;  now  it 
outstrips  its  neighbors,  and  turns  this  way.  How  the  slaves 
bend  to  the  paddles  !  My  laggards  at  last !  " 

The  king,  while  speaking,  rubbed  his  hands  gleefully. 
For  the  time,  Cuitlahua  and  his  question  were  forgotten. 

"  The  lord  Hualpa  has  company,"  observed  the  brother, 
quietly. 

"  Yes.     To'." 

Another  spell  of  silence,  during  which  both  watched  the 
canoe. 

"  Come,  let  us  to  the  palace.  Lingering  here  is  useless." 
And  with  another  look  to  the  city  and  lake,  and  a  last  one 
at  the  speeding  vessel,  yet  too  far  off  to  be  identified,  the 
king  finally  turned  away.  And  Guatamozin  was  still  an 
exile. 


296  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


Tecalco  and  Acatlan,  the  queens,  and  Tula,  and  their  at 
tendants,  sitting  on  the  azoteas  of  the  ancient  house,  taking 
the  air  of  the  declining  day,  arose  to  salute  the  monarch  and 
his  brother.  The  latter  took  the  hand  of  each,  saying,  "  The 
gods  of  our  fathers  be  good  to  you."  Tula's  forehead  he 
touched  with  his  lips.  His  countenance,  like  his  figure  and 
nature,  Indian  in  type,  softened  somewhat  under  her  glance. 
He  knew  her  sorrow,  and  in  sympathy  thought  of  the  'tzin, 
and  of  the  petition  in  his  behalf,  as  yet  unanswered. 

"  All  are  not  here,  one  is  absent,  —  ISTenetzin.  Where  is 
she  ?  I  may  not  sleep  well  without  hearing  her  laugh  once 
more." 

Acatlan  said,  "  You  are  very  good,  my  lord,  to  remember 
my  child.  She  chose  to  remain  below." 

"  She  is  not  sick,  I  hope." 

"  Not  sick,  yet  not  well." 

"  Ah !  the  trouble  is  of  the  mind,  perhaps.  How  old  is 
she  now." 

"  Old  enough  to  be  in  love,  if  that  is  your  meaning." 

Cuitlahua  smiled.  "  That  is  not  a  sickness,  but  a  happi 
ness  ;  so,  at  least,  the  minstrels  say." 

"  What  ails  ISTenetzin  ?  "  asked  the  king. 

Acatlan  cast  down  her  eyes,  and  hesitated. 

"Speak!     What  ails  her?" 

"  I  hardly  know.  She  hardly  knows  herself,"  the  queen 
answered.  "  If  I  am  to  believe  what  she  tells  me,  the  lord 
Cuitlahua  is  right ;  she  is  in  love." 

"  With  Tula,  I  suppose,"  said  the  king,  laughing. 

"  Would  it  were  !  She  says  her  lover  is  called  Tonatiah. 
Much  I  fear,  however,  that  what  she  thinks  love  is  really 
a  delusion,  wrought  by  magic.  She  is  not  herself.  When 
did  Malinche  go  to  the  temple  ? " 

"  Four  days  ago,"  the  king  replied. 

"  Well,  the  teule  met  her  there,  and  spoke  to  her,  and  gave 


THE  IRON   CROSS.  297 


her  a  present.     Since  that,  like  a  child,  she  has  done  little 
else  than  play  with  the  trinket." 

Montezuma  became  interested.  He  seated  himself,  and 
asked,  "  You  said  the  spell  proceeds  from  the  present :  why 
do  you  think  so  ?  " 

;     "The  giver  said  the  gift  was  a  symbol  of  his  religion,  and 
whoever  wore  it  became  of  his  faith,  and  belonged  to  his  god." 

"  Mictlan  !  "  muttered  Cuitlahua. 

"  Strange  !  what  is  the  thing  1 "  the  king  persisted. 

"  Something  of  unknown  metal,  white,  like  silver,  about  a 
hand  in  length,  and  attached  to  a  chain." 

"  Of  unknown  metal,  —  a  symbol  of  religion  !  Where  is 
the  marvel  now  1 " 

"  Around  the  child's  neck,  where  I  believe  it  has  been 
since  she  came  from  the  temple.  Once  she  allowed  me  to 
see  if  I  could  tell  what  the  metal  was,  but  only  for  a  mo 
ment,  and  then  her  eyes  never  quit  me.  She  sits  hours  by 
herself,  \vith  the  bauble  clasped  in  both  hands,  and  sighs,  and 
mopes,  and  has  no  interest  in  what  used  to  please  her  most." 

The  king  mused  awhile.  The  power  of  the  strangers  was 
very  great ;  what  if  the  gift  was  the  secret  of  the  power  ? 

"  Go,  Acatlan,"  he  said,  "  and  call  Nenetzin.  See  that  she 
brings  the  charm  with  her." 

Then  he  arose,  and  began  moodily  to  walk.  Cuitlahua 
talked  with  Tecalco  and  Tula.  The  hour  was  very  pleasant. 
The  sun,  lingering  above  the  horizon,  poured  a  flood  of  bril 
liance  upon  the  hill,  and  palace,  and  over  the  flowers,  trailing 
vines,  and  dwarfed  palm  and  banana  trees,  with  which  the 
azaleas  was  provided. 

Upon  the  return  of  the  queen  with  Nenetzin,  the  king 
resumed  his  seat.  The  girl  knelt  before  him,  her  face  very 
pale,  her  eyes  full  of  tears.  So  lately  a  child,  scarce  a 
woman,  yet  so  weighted  with  womanly  griefs,  the  father 
could  not  view  her  except  with  compassion ;  so  he  raised 
18  • 


298  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


her,  and,  holding  her  hand,  said,  "What  is  this  I  hear, 
Nenetzin  1  Yesterday  I  was  thinking  of  sending  you  to 
school.  Nowadays  lovers  are  very  exacting ;  they  require 
of  their  sweethearts  knowledge  as  well  as  beauty ;  but  you 
outrun  my  plans,  you  have  a  lover  already.  Is  it  so  1 " 

Nenetzin  looked  down,  blushing. 

"  And  no  common  lover  either,"  continued  the  king. 
"  Not  a  'tzin,  or  a  cacique,  or  a  governor ;  not  a  lord  or  a 
prince,  —  a  god  !  Brave  child  !  " 

Still  Nenetzin  was  silent. 

"  You  cannot  call  your  lover  by  name,  nor  speak  to  him 
in  his  language ;  nor  can  he  speak  to  you  in  yours.  Talking 
by  signs  must  be  tedious  for  the  uses  of  love,  which  I 
understand  to  be  but  another  name  for  impatience  ;  yet  you 
are  far  advanced  ;  you  have  seen  your  beloved,  talked  with 
him,  and  received  —  what  1 " 

Nenetzin  clasped  the  iron  cross  upon  her  breast  firmly,  — 
not  as  a  good  Catholic,  seeking  its  protection ;  for  she  would 
have  laid  the  same  hands  on  Alvarado  rather  than  Christ,  — 
and  for  the  first  time  she  looked  in  the  questioner's  face 
straight  and  fearlessly.  A  moment  he  regarded  her  ;  in  the 
moment  his  smile  faded  away ;  and  for  her  it  came  never 
again  —  never. 

"  Give  me  what  you  have  there,"  he  said  sternly,  extend 
ing  his  hand. 

"  It  is  but  a  simple  present,"  she  said,  holding  back. 

"  No,  it  has  to  do  with  religion,  and  that  not  of  our 
fathers." 

"  It  is  mine,"  she  persisted,  and  the  queen  mother  turned 
pale  at  sight  of  her  firmness. 

"  The  child  is  bewitched,"  interposed  Cuitlahua. 

"  And  for  that  I  should  have  the  symbol.    Obey  me,  or  —  " 

Awed  by  the  look,  now  dark  with  anger,  Nenetzin  took 
the  chain  from  her  neck,  and  put  the  cross  in  hie  hand. 
"  There  !  I  pray  you,  return  them  to  me." 


THE  CHKISTIANS  IN  THE  TOILS.  299 

Now,  the  cross,  as  a  religious  symbol,  was  not  new  to  the 
monarch  ;  in  Cozumel  it  was  an  object  of  worship  ;  in  Ta 
basco  it  had  been  reverenced  for  ages  as  emblematic  of  the 
God  of  Eain ;  in  Palenque,  the  Palmyra  of  the  New  World, 
it  is  sculptured  on  the  fadeless  walls,  and  a  child  held  up  to 
adore  it  (in  the  same  picture)  proves  its  holy  character ;  it 
was  not  new  to  the  heathen  king ;  but  the  cross  of  Christ; 
Avas ;  and  singularly  enough,  he  received  the  latter  for  the 
first  time  with  no  thought  of  saving  virtues,  but  as  a  problem 
in  metallurgy. 

"  To-morrow  I  will  send  the  trinkets  to  the  jewellers,"  he 
said,  after  close  examination.  "  They  shall  try  them  in  the 
fire.  Strange,  indeed,  if,  in  all  my  dominions,  they  do  not 
find  whereof  they  are  made." 

He  was  about  to  pass  the  symbol  to  Maxtla,  when  a  mes 
senger  came  up,  and  announced  the  lord  Hualpa  and  the 
prince  Io'.  Instantly,  the  cross,  and  Nenetzin,  and  her  tears 
and  troubles,  vanished  out  of  his  mind. 


CHAPTEE  VII. 

THE   CHRISTIANS    IN    THE   TOILS. 

"  T~   ET  the  azoteas  be  cleared  of  all  but  my  family.     You, 

I  J  my  brother,  will  remain." 

So  saying,  the  king  arose,  and  began  walking  again.  As 
he  did  30,  the  cross  slipped  from  his  fingers,  and  fell,  ringing 
sharply  upon  the  roof.  Nenetzin  sprang  forward  and  picked 
the  symbol  up. 

"  Now,  call  the  messengers." 

When  the  chief  was  gone,  the  monarch  stepped  to  Cui- 
tlahua,  and,  laying  a  hand  upon  his  arm,  said,  "  At  last,  O 


300  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


brother,  at  last !  The  time  so  long,  prayed  for  is  come.  The 
enemy  is  in  the  snare,  and  he  is  mine.  So  the  god  of  our 
fathers  has  promised.  The  messengers  bring  me  his  permis 
sion  to  make  war." 

"  At  last !  Praised  be  Huitzil' !  "  exclaimed  Cuitlahua, 
with  upraised  hands  and  eyes. 

"  Praised  be  Huitzil'  !  "  cried  Tula,  with  equal  fervor. 

"  Malinche  began  his  march  to  Tenochtitlan  against  my 
order,  which,  for  a  purpose,  I  afterwards  changed  to  invita 
tion.  Since  that,  my  people,  my  army,  the  lords,  the  pabas, 
the  Empire,  have  upbraided  me  for  weakness.  I  only  bided 
my  time,  and  the  assent  of  Huitzil'.  And  the  result  1  The 
palace  of  Axaya'  shall  be  the  tomb  of  the  insolent  strangers." 

As  he  spoke,  the  monarch's  bosom  swelled  with  the  old 
warrior  spirit. 

"  You  would  have  had  me  go  meet  Malinche,  and  in  the 
open  field  array  my  people  to  be  trodden  down  by  his  beasts 
of  war.  Now,  ours  is  the  advantage.  We  will  shut  him  in 
with  walls  of  men  as  well  as  of  houses.  Over  them  he  may 
ride,  but  the  first  bridge  will  be  the  end  of  his  journey ; 
it  will  be  raised.  Mictlan  take  our  legions,  if  they  cannot 
conquer  him  at  last !  " 

He  laughed  scornfully. 

"  In  the  temples  are  seventy  thousand  fighting  men,  gath 
ered  unknown  to  all  but  Tlalac.  They  are  tired  of  their 
prison,  and  cry  for  freedom  and  battle.  Two  other  measures 
taken,  and  the  war  begins,  —  only  two.  Malinche  has  no 
stores;  he  is  dependent  upon  me  for  to-morrow's  bread. 
What  if  I  say,  not  a  grain  of  corn,  not  a  mouthful  of  meat 
shall  pass  his  palace  gate  1  As  to  the  other  step,  —  what  if 
I  bid  you  raise  the  bridges  1  What  then  ?  His  beasts  must 
starve  ;  so  must  his  people,  unless  they  can  fly.  Let  him 
use  his  engines  of  fire ;  the  material  he  serves  them  witli 
cannot  last  always,  so  that  want  will  silence  them  also.  The 


THE  CHEISTIANS  IN  THE  TOILS.  301 

measures  depend  on  niy  word,  which,  by  the  blessing  of  Huit- 
zu",  I  will  speak,  and  "  — 

"  When  1  "  asked  Cuitlahua,  earnestly. 

"  To-morrow  — 

"  The  day,  —  O  my  kingly  brother !  —  the  day  will  be 
memorable  in  Anahuac  forever  !  " 

'•  The  monarch's  eyes  flashed  with  evil  fire.  "  It  shall  be 
so.  Part  of  the  invaders  will  not  content  me ;  none  shall 
escape,  —  not  one  !  In  the  world  shall  not  one  be  left !  " 

All  present  listened  eagerly.  Nenetzin  alone  gave  no  sign 
of  feeling,  though  she  heard  every  word. 

The  couriers  now  appeared.  Over  their  uniforms  was  the 
inevitable  nequen.  Instead  of  helms,  they  wore  broad  bands, 
ornamented  with  plumes  and  brilliants.  At  their  backs  hung 
their  shields.  The  prince,  proud  and  happy,  kissed  his 
mother's  hand,  and  nodded  to  the  sisters.  Hualpa  went  to 
the  king,  and  knelt  in  salute. 

"  I  have  been  waiting  since  noon,"  said  Montezuma,  coldly. 

"  We  pray  your  pardon,  O  king,  good  master.  The  fault 
was  not  ours.  Since  yesterday  at  noon  we  have  not  ate  or 
drank  or  slept ;  neither  have  we  been  out  of  the  great  temple, 
except  to  embark  and  come  here,  which  was  with  all  possible 
speed." 

"  It  is  well.     Arise  !     What  says  the  god  1 " 

Every  ear  was  strained  to  hear. 

"  We  followed  your  orders  in  all  things,  0  king.  In  the 
temple  we  found  the  teotuctli,  and  the  pabas  of  the  city, 
with  many  from  Tezcuco  and  Cholula." 

"  Saw  you  Mualox,  of  the  old  Cu  of  Quetzal'  ? " 

"  Mualox  was  not  there." 

The  king  waved  his  hand. 

"  We  presented  ourselves  to  the  teotuctli,  and  gave  him  your 
message ;  in  proof  of  our  authority,  we  showed  him  the  sig 
net,  which  we  now  return." 


302  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

The  seal  was  taken  in  silence. 

"  In  presence,  then,  of  all  the  pabas,  the  sacrifices  were 
begun.  I  counted  the  victims,  —  nine  hundred  in  all.  The 
afternoon  and  night,  and  to-day,  to  the  time  of  our'departure, 
the  service  lasted.  The  sound  of  prayer  from  the  holy  men 
was  unintermitted  and  loud.  I  looked  once  to  the  palace  of 
Axaya',  and  saw  the  azoteas  crowded  with  the  strangers  and 
their  Tlascalans." 

The  king  and  the  lord  Cuitlahua  exchanged  glances  of 
satisfaction. 

"  At  last  the  labors  of  the  teotuctli  were  rewarded.  I  saw 
him  tear  a  heart  from  a  victim's  breast,  and  study  the  signs  ; 
then,  with  a  loud  cry,  he  ran  and  flung  the  heart  into  the  fire 
before  the  altar  of  Huitzil' ;  and  all  there  joined  in  the  cry, 
which  was  of  rejoicing,  and  washed  their  hands  in  the  blood. 
The  holy  man  then  came  to  me,  and  said, '  Say  to  Montezuma, 
the  wise  king,  that  Huitzil',  the  Supreme  God,  has  answered, 
and  bids  him  begin  the  war.  Say  to  him,  also,  to  be  of 
cheer ;  for  the  land  shall  be  delivered  from  the  strangers,  and 
the  strangers  shall  be  delivered  to  him,  in  trust  for  the  god. 
Then  he  stood  in  the  door  of  the  sanctuary,  and  made  procla 
mation  of  the  divine  will.  And  that  was  all,  0  king." 

"  To  Huitzil'  be  the  praise  !  "  exclaimed  the  king,  piously. 

"  And  to  Montezuma  the  glory  !  "  said  Cuitlahua. 

And  the  queens  and  Tula  kissed  the  monarch's  hand,  and 
at  his  feet  Io'  knelt,  and  laid  his  shield,  saying,  — 

"  A  favor,  O  king,  a  favor !  " 

"  Well." 

"  Let  not  my  years  be  counted,  but  give  me  a  warrior's 
part  in  the  sacred  war." 

And  Cuitlahua  went  to  the  suppliant,  and  laid  a  hand 
upon  his  head,  and  said,  his  massive  features  glowing  with 
honest  pride,  "  It  was  well  spoken,  0  my  brother,  well  spo» 
ken.  The  blood  and  spirit  of  our  race  will  survive  us.  I, 


THE  CHRISTIANS  IN  THE  TOILS.  303 

the  oldest,  rejoice,  and,  with  the  youngest,  pray;  give  us 
each  to  do  a  warrior's  part." 

Brighter  grew  the  monarch's  eyes. 

"  Your  will  be  done,"  he  said  to  Io'.  "  Arise  !  "  Then 
looking  toward  the  sun,  he  added,  with  majestic  fervor,  "  The 
Inspiration  is  from  you,  0  holy  gods  !  strengthen  it,  I  pray, 
'and  help  him  in  the  way  he  would  go."  A  moment  after,  he 
turned  to  Cuitlahua,  "  My  brother,  have  your  wish  also.  I 
give  you  the  command.  You  have  my  signet  already.  To 
morrow  the  drum  of  Huitzil'  will  be  beaten.  At  the  sound, 
let  the  bridges  next  the  palace  of  Axaya'  on  all  the  cause 
ways  be  taken  up.  Close  the  market  to-night.  Supplies  for 
one  day  more  Malinche  may  have,  and  that  is  all.  Around 
the  teocallis,  in  hearing  of  a  shell,  are  ten  thousand  warriors  ; 
take  them,  and,  after  the  beating  of  the  drum,  see  that  the 
strangers  come  not  out  of  the  palace,  and  that  nothing  goes 
through  its  gates  for  them.  But  until  the  signal,  let  there 
be  friendship  and  perfect  peace.  And  "  —  he  looked  around 
slowly  and  solemnly  —  "  what  I  have  here  spoken  is  between 
ourselves  and  the  gods." 

And  Cuitlahua  knelt  and  kissed  his  hand,  in  token  of 
loyalty. 

While  the  scene  was  passing,  as  the  only  one  present  not 
of  the  royal  family,  Hualpa  stood  by,  with  downcast  eyes  ; 
and  as  he  listened  to  the  brave  words  of  the  king,  involving 
so  much  of  weal  or  woe  to  the  realm,  he  wondered  at  the 
fortune  which  had  brought  him  such  rich  confidence,  not  as 
the  slow  result  of  years  of  service,  but,  as  it  were,  in  a  day. 
Suddenly,  the  monarch  turned  to  him. 

"  Thanks  are  not  enough,  lord  Hualpa,  for  the  report 
you  bring.  As  a  messenger  between  me  and  the  mighty 
Huitzil',  you  shall  have  reason  to  rejoice  with  us.  Lands 
and  rank  you  have,  and  a  palace ;  now,"  —  a  smile  broke 
through  his  seriousness, — "  now  I  will  give  you  a  wife.  Here 


304  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


she  is."  And  to  the  amazement  of  all,  he  pointed  to  Nenet- 
ziii.  "  A  wild  bird,  by  the  Sun  !  What  say  you,  lord 
Hualpa  1  Is  she  not  beautiful  ?  Yet,"  he  became  grave  in 
an  instant,  "  I  warn  you  that  she  is  self-willed,  and  spoiled, 
and  now  suffers  from  a  distemper  which  she  fancies  to  be 
love.  I  warn  you,  lest  one  of  the  enemy,  of  whom  we  were 
but  now  talking,  lure  her  from  you,  as  he  seems  to  have  lured 
her  from  us  and  our  gods.  To  save  her,  and  place  her  in 
good  keeping,  as  well  as  to  bestow  a  proper  reward,  I  will 
give  her  to  you  for  wife." 

Tecalco  looked  at  Acatlan,  who  governed  her  feelings 
well ;  possibly  she  was  satisfied,  for  the  waywardness  of  the 
girl  had,  of  late,  caused  her  anxiety,  while,  if  not  a  prince, 
like  Cacama,  Hualpa  was  young,  brave,  handsome,  ennobled, 
and,  as  the  proposal  itself  proved,  on  the  high  road  to 
princely  honors.  Tula  openly  rejoiced ;  so  did  Io'.  The 
lord  Cuitlahua  was  indifferent ;  his  new  command,  and  the 
prospects  of  the  morrow,  so  absorbed  him  that  a  betrothal  or 
a  wedding  was  a  trifle.  As  for  Hualpa,  it  was  as  if  the 
flowery  land  of  the  Aztec  heaven  had  opened  around  him. 
He  was  speechless  ;  but  in  the  step  half  taken,  his  flushed 
face,  his  quick  breathing,  ISTenetzin  read  all  he  could  have 
said,  and  more ;  and  so  he  waited  a  sign  from  her,  —  a  sign, 
though  but  a  glance  or  a  motion  of  the  lip  or  hand.  And 
she  gave  him  a  smile,  —  not  like  that  the  bold  Spaniard 
received  on  the  temple,  nor  warm,  as  if  prompted  by  the 
loving  soul,  —  a  smile,  witnessed  by  all  present,  and  by  all 
accepted  as  her  expression  of  assent. 

"  I  will  give  her  to  you  for  wife,"  the  monarch  repeated, 
slowly  and  distinctly.  "  This  is  the  betrothal ;  the  wedding 
shall  be  when  the  war  is  over,  when  not  a  white-faced 
stranger  is  left  in  all  my  domain." 

While  yet  he  spoke,  Neuetzin  ran  to  her  mother,  and  hid 
her  face  in  her  bosom. 


THE  CHRISTIANS   IN  THE  TOILS.  305 

"  Listen  further,  lord  Hualpa,"  said  the  king.  "  In  the 
great  business  of  to-morrow  I  give  you  a  part.  At  daylight 
return  to  the  temple,  and  remain  there  in  the  turret  where 
hangs  the  drum  of  Huitzil'.  Io'  will  come  to  you  about 
noon,  with  my  command ;  then,  if  such  be  its  effect,  with 
your  own  hand  give  the  signal  for  which  the  lord  Cuitlahua 
will  be  waiting.  Strike  so  as  to  be  heard  by  the  city,  and 
by  the  cities  on  the  shores  of  the  lake.  Afterwards,  with 
Io',  go  to  the  lord  Cuitlahua.  Here  is  the  signet  again. 
The  teotuctli  may  want  proof  of  your  authority." 

Hualpa,  kneeling  to  receive  the  seal,  kissed  the  monarch's 
hand. 

"  And  now,"  the  latter  said,  addressing  himself  to  Cuitla 
hua,  "  the  interview  is  ended.  You  have  much  to  do.  Go. 
The  gods  keep  you." 

Hualpa,  at  last  released,  went  and  paid  homage  to  his 
betrothed,  and  was  made  still  more  happy  by  her  words,  and 
the  congratulations  of  the  queens. 

Tula  alone  lingered  at  the  king's  side,  her  large  eyes  fixed 
appealingly  on  his  face. 

"  What  now,  Tula  ?  "  he  asked,  tenderly. 

And  she  answered,  "  You  have  need,  0  king  and  good 
father,  of  faithful,  loving  warriors.  I  know  of  one.  He 
should  be  here,  but  is  not.  Of  to-morrow,  its  braveries  and 
sacrifices,  the  minstrels  will  sing  for  ages  to  come  ;  and  the 
burden  of  their  songs  will  be  how  nobly  the  people  fought, 
and  died,  and  conquered  for  you.  Shall  the  opportunity  be 
for  all  but  him  ]  Do  not  so  wrong  yourself,  be  not  so  cruel 
to  —  to  me,"  she  said,  clasping  her  hands. 

His  look  of  tenderness  vanished,  and  he  walked  away,  and 
from  the  parapet  of  the  azoteas  gazed  long  and  fixedly,  ap 
parently  observing  the  day  dying  in  the  west,  or  the  royal 
gardens  that  stretched  out  of  sight  from  the  base  of  the  cas 
tled  hill. 

T 


306  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


She  waited  expectantly,  but  no  answer  came,  —  none  ever 
came. 

And  when,  directly,  she  joined  the  group  about  Nenetzin 
and  Hualpa,  and  leaned  confidingly  upon  Io',  she  little 
thought  that  his  was  the  shadow  darkening  her  love  ;  that 
the  dreamy  monarch,  looking  forward  to  the  succession,  saw, 
in  the  far  future,  a  struggle  for  the  crown  between  the  prince 
and  the  'tzin  ;  that  for  the  former  hope  there  was  not,  except 
in  what  might  now  be  done  ;  and  that  yet  there  was  not  hope, 
if  the  opportunities  of  war  were  as  open  to  the  one  as  to  the 
other.  So  the  exile  continued. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

THE   IRON    CROSS   COMES   BACK   TO   ITS   GIVER. 

A  EMITTING  that  the  intent  with  which  the  Span- 
"£-*-  iards  came  to  Tenochtitlan  took  from  them  the  sanc 
tity  accorded  by  Christians  to  guests,  and  at  the  same  time 
justified  any  measure  in  prevention, — a  subject  belonging 
to  the  casuist  rather  than  the  teller  of  a  story,  —  their  situa 
tion  has  now  become  so  perilous,  and  possibly  so  interesting 
to  my  sympathetic  reader,  that  he  may  be  anxious  to  enter 
the  old  palace,  and  see  what  they  are  doing. 

The  dull  report  of  the  evening  gun  had  long  since  spent 
itself  over  the  lake,  and  along  the  gardened  shores.  So,  too, 
mass  had  been  said  in  the  chapel,  newly  improvised,  and 
very  limited  for  such  high  ceremony ;  yet,  as  Father  Barto- 
lome'  observed,  roomy  enough  for  prayer  and  penitence. 
Nor  had  the  usual  precautions  against  surprise  been  omitted ; 
on  the  contrary,  extra  devices  in  that  way  had  been  resorted 
to ;  the  guards  had  been  doubled ;  the  horses  stood  capari- 


THE  IRON  CROSS  COMES  BACK  TO  ITS  GIVER.      307 

sorted  ;  by  the  guns  at  the  gates  low  fires  were  burning,  to 
light,  in  an  instant,  the  matches  of  the  gunners  ;  and  at  in 
tervals,  under  cover  of  the  walls,  lay  or  lounged  detachments 
of  both  Christians  and  Tlascalans,  apparently  told  off  for 
battle.  A  yell  without  or  a  shot  within,  and  the  palace 
would  bristle  with  defenders.  A  careful  captain  was  Cortes. 

In  his  room,  once  the  audience- chamber  of  the  kings, 
paced  the  stout  conquistador.  He  was  alone,  and,  as  usual, 
in  armor,  except  of  the  head  and  hands.  On  a  table  were 
his  helm,  iron  gloves,  and  battle-axe,  fair  to  view,  as  was  the 
chamber,  in  the  cheerful,  ruddy  light  of  a  brazen  lamp.  As 
he  Avalked,  he  used  his  sword  for  staff ;  and  its  clang,  joined 
to  the  sharp  concussion  of  the  sollerets  smiting  the  tessellated 
floor  at  each  step,  gave  notice  in  the  adjoining  chamber,  and 
out  in  the  patio,  that  the  general  —  or,  as  he  was  more  famil 
iarly  called,  the  Senor  Hernan  —  was  awake  and  uncom 
monly  restless.  After  a  while  the  curtains  of  the  doorway 
parted,  and  Father  Bartolome  entered  without  challenge. 
The  good  man  was  clad  in  a  cassock  of  black  serge,  much 
frayed,  and  girt  to  the  waist  by  a  leathern  belt,  to  which 
hung  an  ivory  cross,  and  a  string  of  amber  beads.  At  sight 
of  him,  Cortes  halted,  and,  leaning  on  his  sword,  said,  "  Bring 
thy  bones  here,  father  ;  or,  if  such  womanly  habit  suit  thee 
better,  rest  them  on  the  settle  yonder.  Anyhow,  thou  'rt . 
welcome.  I  assure  thee  of  the  fact  in  advance  of  thy  re 
port." 

"  Thank  thee,  Senor,"  he  replied.  "  The  cross,  as  thou 
mayst  have  heard,  is  proverbially  heavy  ;  but  its  weight  is 
to  the  spirit,  not  the  body,  like  the  iron  with  which  thou 
keep'st  thyself  so  constantly  clothed.  I  will  come  and  stand 
by  thee,  especially  as  my  words  must  be  few,  and  to  our  own 
ears." 

He  went  near,  and  continued  in  a  low  voice,  and  rapidly, 
"  A  deputation,  appointed  to  confer  with  thee,  is  now  com- 


308  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


ing.  I  sounded  the  men.  I  told  them  our  condition  ;  how 
we  are  enclosed  in  the  city,  dependent  upon  an  inconstant 
king  for  bread,  without  hope  of  succor,  without  a  road  of 
retreat.  Following  thy  direction,  I  drew  the  picture  darkly. 
Very  soon  they  began  asking,  '  What  think'st  thou  ought  to 
be  done  1 '  As  agreed  between  us,  I  suggested  the  seizure  of 
Montezuma.  They  adopted  the  idea  instantly  ;  and,  that  no 
consideration  like  personal  affection  for  the  king  may  influ 
ence  thee  to  reject  the  proposal,  the  deputation  cometh,  with 
Diaz  del  Castillo  at  the  head." 

A  gleam  of  humor  twinkled  in  Cortes's  eyes. 

"  Art  sure  they  do  not  suspect  me  as  the  author  of  the 
scheme  1 " 

"  They  will  urge  it  earnestly  as  their  own,  and  support  it 
with  arguments  which  "  —  the  father  paused  a  moment  —  "I 
am  sure  thou  wilt  find  irresistible." 

Cortes  raised  himself  from  the  sword,  and  indulged  a  laugh 
while  he  crossed  the  room  and  returned. 

"  I  thank  thee,  father,"  he  said,  resuming  his  habitual 
gravity.  "  So  men  are  managed ;  nothing  more  simple,  if 
we  do  but  know  how.  The  project  hath  been  in  my  mind 
since  we  left  Tlascala ;  but,  as  thou  know'st,  I  feared  it 
might  be  made  of  account  against  me  with  our  imperial 
master.  Now,  it  cometh  back  as  business  of  urgency  to 
the  army,  to  which  men  think  I  cannot  say  nay.  Let  them 
come  ;  I  am  ready." 

He  began  walking  again,  thumping  the  floor  with  his 
sword,  while  Olmedo  took  possession  of  a  bench  by  the 
table.  Presently,  there  was  heard  at  the  door  the  soiind  of 
many  feet,  which  you  may  be  sure  were  not  those  of  slip 
pered  damsels ;  for,  at  the  bidding  of  Cortes,  twelve  soldiers 
came  in,  followed  by  several  officers,  and  after  them  yet 
other  soldiers.  The  general  Avent  to  the  table  and  seated 
himself.  They  ranged  themselves  about  him,  standing. 


THE  IRON  CROSS  COMES  BACK  TO  ITS  GIVER.      309 

And  for  a  time  the  chamber  went  back  to  its  primitive 
use ;  but  what  were  the  audiences  of  Axaya'  compared  with 
this]  Here  was  no  painted  cotton,  or  feather- work  gaudy 
with  the  spoils  of  humming-birds  and  parrots  :  in  their 
stead,  the  gleam  and  lustre  blent  with  the  brown  of  iron. 
One  such  Christian  warrior  was  worth  a  hundred  heathen 
chiefs.  So  thought  Cortes,  as  he  glanced  at  the  faces  before 
him,  bearded,  mustachioed,  and  shaded  down  to  the  eyes  by 
well-worn  morions. 

"  Good  evening,  gentlemen  and  soldiers,"  he  said,  kindly, 
but  without  a  bow.  "  This  hath  the  appearance  of  business." 

Diaz  advanced  a  step,  and  replied,  — 

"  Senor,  we  are  a  deputation  from  the  army,  appointed  to 
beg  attention  to  a  matter  which  to  us  looketh  serious ; 
enough  so,  at  least,  to  justify  this  appearance.  "We  have 
been,  and  are,  thy  faithful  soldiers,  in  whom  thou  mayst 
trust  to  the  death,  as  our  conduct  all  the  way  from  the  coast 
doth  certify.  Nor  do  we  come  to  complain ;  on  that  score 
be  at  rest.  But  we  are  men  of  experience ;  a  long  campaign 
hath  given  us  eyes  to  see  and  ability  to  consider  a  situation ; 
while  we  submit  willingly  to  all  thy  orders,  trusting  in  thy 
superior  sense,  we  yet  think  thou  wilt  not  take  it  badly, 
nor  judge  us  wanting  in  discipline  and  respect,  if  we  venture 
the  opinion  that,  despite  the  courtesies  and  fair  seeming  of 
the  unbelieving  king,  Montezurna,  we  are,  in  fact,  cooped 
up  in  this  strong  city  as  in  a  cage." 

"  I  see  the  business  already,"  said  Cortes ;  "  and,  by  my 
conscience  !  ye  are  welcome  to  help  me  consider  it.  Speak 
out,  Bernal  Diaz." 

"  Thank  thee,  Senor.  The  question  in  our  minds  is,  What 
shall  be  done  next  1  We  know  that  but  few  things  bearing 
anywise  upon  our  expedition  escape  thy  eyes,  and  that  of  what 
is  observed  by  thee  nothing  is  forgotten ;  therefore,  what  I 
wish,  first,  is  to  refer  some  points  to  thy  memory.  When 


310  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


we  left  Cuba,  we  put  ourselves  in  the  keeping  of  the  Holy 
Virgin,  without  any  certain  purpose.  We  believed  there 
was  in  this  direction  somewhere  a  land  peopled  and  full  of 
gold  for  the  finding.  Of  that  we  were  assured  when  we  set 
out  from  the  coast  to  come  here.  And  now  that  we  are 
come,  safe  from  so  many  dangers,  and  hardships,  and  battles, 
we  think  it  no  shame  to  admit  that  we  were  not  prepared  for 
'what  we  find,  so  far  doth  the  fact  exceed  all  our  imaginings ; 
neither  can  we  be  charged  justly  with  weakness  or  fear,  if 
we  all  desire  to  know  whether  the  expedition  is  at  an  end, 
and  whether  the  time  hath  arrived  to  collect  our  gains,  and 
divide  them,  and  set  our  faces  homeward.  There  are  in  the 
army  some  who  think  that  time  come ;  but  I,  and  my  asso 
ciates  here,  are  not  of  that  opinion.  We  believe  with  Father 
Olmedo,  that  God  and  the  Holy  Mother  brought  us  to  this 
land,  and  that  we  are  their  instruments ;  and  that,  in  reward 
for  our  toils,  and  for  setting  up  the  cross  in  all  these  abom 
inable  temples,  and  bringing  about  the  conversion  of  these 
heathen  hordes,  the  country,  and  all  that  is  in  it,  are 
ours." 

"  They  are  ours  ! "  cried  Cortes,  dashing  his  sword  against 
the  floor  until  the  chamber  rang.  "  They  are  ours,  all  ours ; 
subject  only  to  the  will  of  our  master,  the  Emperor." 

The  latter  words  he  said  slowly,  meaning  that  they  should 
be  remembered. 

"We  are  glad,  Senor,  to  hear  thy  approval  so  heartily 
given,"  Diaz  resumed.  "  If  we  are  not  mistaken  in  the 
opinion,  and,  following  it  up,  decide  to  reduce  the  country  to 
possession  and  the  true  belief,  —  something,  I  confess,  not 
difficult  to  determine,  since  we  have  no  ships  in  which  to 
sail  away,  —  then  we  think  a  plan  of  action  should  be  adopt 
ed  immediately.  If  the  reduction  can  be  best  effected  from 
the  city,  let  us  abide  here,  by  all  means  ;  if  not,  the  sooner 
we  are  beyond  the  dikes  and  bridges,  and  out  of  the  valley, 


THE   IRON  CROSS  COMES  BACK  TO  ITS  GIVER.      311 

the  better.  Whether  we  shall  remain,  Senor,  is  for  thee  to 
say.  The  army  hath  simply  chosen  us  to  make  a  suggestion, 
which  we  hope  thou  wilt  accept  as  its  sense ;  and  that  is,  to 
seize  the  person  of  Montezuma,  and  bring  him  to  these  quar 
ters,  after  which  there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  providing  for 
our  wants  and  safety,  and  controlling,  as  may  be  best,  the 
people,  the  city,  the  provinces,  and  all  tilings  else  yet  un 
discovered. 

"Jesu  Christo!"  exclaimed  Cortes,  like  one  surprised. 
"  Whence  got  ye  this  idea  ?  Much  I  fear  the  Devil  is  abroad 
again."  And  he  began  to  walk  the  floor,  using  long  strides, 
and  muttering  to  himself;  retaking  his  seat,  he  said,  — 

"  The  proposition  hath  a  bold  look,  soldiers  and  comrades, 
and  for  our  lives'  sake  requireth  careful  thought.  That  we 
can  govern  the  Empire  through  Montezuma,  I  have  always 
held,  and  with  that  idea  I  marched  you  here,  as  the  cavaliers 
now  present  can  testify ;  but  the  taking  and  holding  him 
prisoner,  —  by  my  conscience  !  ye  out-travel  me,  and  I  must 
have  time  to  think  about  the  business.  But,  gentlemen,"  — 
turning  to  the  Captains  Leon,  Ordas,  Sandoval,  and  Alvarado, 
Avho,  as  part  of  the  delegation,  had  stationed  themselves  behind 
him,  —  "ye  have  reflected  upon  the  business,  and  are  of  made- 
up  minds.  Upon  two  points  I  would  have  your  judgments  : 
first,  can  we  justify  the  seizure  to  his  Majesty,  the  Emperor  1 
secondly,  how  is  the  arrest  to  be  accomplished?  Speak 
thou,  Sandoval." 

"  As  thou  knoAv'st,  Senor  Hernan,  what  I  say  must  be 
said  bluntly,  and  with  little  regard  for  qualifications,"  San 
doval  replied,  lisping.  "  To  me  the  seizure  is  a  neces 
sity,  and  as  such  justifiable  to  our  royal  master,  himself 
so  good  a  soldier.  I  have  come  to  regard  the  heathen  king 
as  faithless,  and  therefore  unworthy,  except  as  an  instrument 
in  our  hands.  I  cannot  forget  how  we  were  cautioned 
against  him  in  all  the  lower  towns,  and  how,  from  all  quar- 


312  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

ters,  we  were  assured  he  meant  to  follow  the  pretended  in 
structions  of  his  god,  allow  us  to  enter  the  capital  quietly, 
then  fall  upon  us  without  notice  and  at  disadvantage.  And 
now  that  we  are  enclosed,  he  hath  only  to  cut  off  our  sup 
plies  of  bread  and  water,  and  break  down  the  bridges.  So, 
Senor,  I  avouch  that,  in  my  opinion,  there  is  but  one  ques 
tion  for  consideration,  —  Shall  we  move  against  him,  or  wait 
until  he  is  ready  to  move  against  us  1  I  would  rather  sur 
prise  my  enemy  than  be  surprised  by  him." 

"  And  what  sayest  thou,  Leon  ?  " 

"  The  good  Captain  Sandoval  hath  spoken  for  me,  Senor. 
I  would  add,  that  some  of  us  have  to-day  noticed  that  the 
king's  steward,  besides  being  insolent,  hath  failed  to  supply 
our  tables  as  formerly.  And  from  Aguilar,  the  interpreter, 
who  hath  his  news  from  the  Tlascalans,  I  learn  that  the  Mex 
icans  certainly  have  some  evil  plot  in  progress." 

"  And  yet  further,  captain,  say  for  me,"  cried  Alvarado, 
impetuously,  "  that  the  prince  now  with  us,  his  name  — 
The  fiend  take  Ms  name  !  " 

"  Thou  would'st  say,  the  Prince  of  Tezcuco  j  never  mind 
his  name,"  Cortes  said,  gravely. 

"  Ay,  never  mind  his  name,"  Olmedo  repeated,  with  a 
scarce  perceptible  gleam  of  humor.  "  At  the  baptism  to 
morrow  I  will  give  him  something  more  Christian." 

"  As  ye  will,  as  ye  will !  "  Alvarado  rejoined,  impatiently. 
"  I  was  about  to  say,  that  the  Tezcucan  averreth  most  roundly 
that  the  yells  we  heard  this  afternoon  from  the  temple  over 
the  way  signified  a  grand  utterance  from  the  god  of  war ;  and 
of  opinion  that  we  will  now  be  soon  attacked,  he  refuseth  to 
go  into  the  city  again." 

"  And  thou,  Ordas." 

"  Senor,"  that  captain  replied,  "  I  am  in  favor  of  the  seiz- 
are.  If,  as  all  believe,  Montezuma  is  bent  to  make  war  upon 
us,  the  best  way  to  meet  the  danger  is  to  arrest  him  in  time. 


THE  IRON  CROSS  COMES  BACK  TO  ITS  GIVER.      313 

The  question,  simply  stated,  is,  his  liberty  or  our  lives. 
Moreover,  I  want  an  end  to  the  uncertainty  that  so  vexeth 
us  night  and  day  ;  worse,  by  far,  than  any  battle  the  heathen 
can  offer." 

Cortes  played  with  the  knot  of  his  sword,  and  reflected. 

"  Such,  then,  is  the  judgment  of  the  army,"  he  finally 
said.  "  And  such,  gentlemen,  is  mine,  also.  But  is  that 
enough  ?  What  we  do  as  matter  of  policy  may  be  approved 
of  man,  even  our  imperial  master,  of  whom  I  am  always  re 
gardful  ;  but,  as  matter  of  conscience,  the  approval  of  Heaven 
must  be  looked  for.  Stand  out,  Father  Bartolome  !  Upon 
thy  brow  is  the  finger  of  St.  Peter,  at  thy  girdle  the  cross 
of  Christ.  What  saith  the  Church  1 " 

The  good  man  arose,  and  held  out  the  cross,  saying,  — 

"  My  children,  upon  the  Church,  by  Christ  himself,  this 
solemn  hest  hath  been  placed,  good  for  all  places,  to  be  parted 
from  never  :  '  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gos 
pel  to  every  creature.'  The  way  hither  hath  been  through 
strange  seas  and  deadly  climates.  Hear  me,  that  ye  may 
know  yourselves.  Ye  are  the  swords  of  the  Church.  In 
Cempoalla  she  preached ;  so  in  Tlascala ;  so  in  Cholula ;  and 
in  all,  she  cast  out  false  gods,  and  converted  whole  tribes. 
Only  in  this  city  hath  the  gospel  not  been  proclaimed.  And 
why  1  Because  of  a  king  who  to-day,  almost  in  our  view, 
sacrificed  men  to  his  idols.  Swords  of  the  Church,  which 
go  before  to  make  smooth  her  path,  Christ  and  the  Holy 
Mother  must  be  taught  in  yon  temple  of  sin.  So  saith  the 
Church  ! " 

There  was  much  crossing  of  forehead  and  breast,  and 
"  Amen,"  and  the  sweet  name  "  Ave  Maria  "  sounded  through 
the  chamber,  not  in  the  murmur  of  a  cathedral  response,  but 
outspokenly  as  became  the  swords  of  Christ.  The  sensation 
was  hardly  done,  when  some  one  at  the  door  called  loudly 
for  Alvarado. 

14 


314  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Who  is  he  that  so  calleth  1 "  the  captain  asked,  angrily. 
"  Let  him  choose  another  time." 

The  name  was  repeated  more  loudly. 

"  Tell  the  mouther  to  seek  me  to-morrow." 

A  third  time  the  captain  was  called. 

"  May  the  Devil  fly  away  with  the  fellow  !     I  will  not 

go-" 

"  Bid  the  man  enter,"  said  Cortes.  "  The  disturbance  is 
strange." 

A  soldier  appeared,  whom  Alvarado,  still  angry,  addressed, 
"  How  now  1  Dost  thou  take  me  for  a  kitchen  girl,  appren 
ticed  to  answer  thee  at  all  times  ?  What  hast  thou  1  Be 
brief.  This  goodly  company  waiteth." 

"  I  crave  thy  pardon,  captain.  I  crave  pardon  of  the 
company,"  the  soldier  answered,  saluting  Cortes.  "  I  am  on 
duty  at  the  main  gate.  A  little  while  ago,  a  woman  —  " 

"  Picaro  ! "  cried  Alvarado,  contemptuously.  "  Only  a 
woman !  " 

"  Peace,  captain !  Let  the  man  proceed,"  said  Cortes, 
whose  habit  it  was  to  hear  his  common  soldiers  gravely. 

"  As  I  was  about  saying,  Senor,  a  woman  came  running  to 
the  gate.  She  was  challenged.  I  could  not  understand  her, 
and  she  was  much  scared,  for  behind  her  on  the  street  was 
a  party  that  seemed  to  have  been  in  pursuit.  She  cried, 
and  pressed  for  admittance.  My  order  is  strict,  —  Admit  no 
one  after  the  evening  gun.  While  I  was  trying  to  make  her 
understand  me,  some  arrows  were  shot  by  the  party  outside, 
and  one  passed  through  her  arm.  She  then  flung  herself  on 
the  pavement,  and  gave  me  this  cross,  and  said  'Tonatiah, 
Tonatiah  ! '  As  that  is  what  the  people  call  thee,  Senor 
Alvarado,  I  judged  she  wanted  it  given  to  thee  for  some  pur 
pose.  The  shooting  at  her  made  me  think  that  possibly  the 
business  might  be  of  importance.  If  I  am  mistaken,  I 
again  pray  pardon.  Here  is  the  cross.  Shall  I  admit  the 
woman  1 " 


A  FORTUNATE  MAN  HATH  A  MEMORY.  315 

Alvarado  took  the  cross,  and  looked  at  it  once. 

"  By  the  saints  !  my  mother's  gift  to  me,  and  mine  to  the 

princess  ISTenetzin."    Of  the  soldier  he  asked,  in  a  suppressed 

voice,  "  Is  the  woman  old  or  young  1 " 
"A  girl,  little  more  than  a  child." 
"  'T  is  she  !     Mother  of  Christ,  't  is  Nenetziii !  " 
And  through  the  company,  without  apology,  he  rushed. 

The  soldier  saluted,  and  followed  him. 

"  To  the  gate,  Sandoval !     See  the  rest  of  this  affair,  and 

report,"  said  Cortes,  quietly.     "  We  will  stay  the  business 

until  you  return." 


CHAPTEE  IX. 

TRULY   WONDERFUL. A   FORTUNATE    MAN    HATH   A   MEMORY. 

TWO  canoes,  tied  to  the  strand,  attested  that  the  royal 
party,  and  Io'  and  Hualpa,  were  yet  at  Chapultepec, 
which  was  no  doubt  as  pleasant  at  night,  seen  of  all  the 
stars,  as  in  the  day,  kissed  by  the  softest  of  tropical  suns. 

That  the  lord  Hualpa  should  linger  there  was  most  nat 
ural.  Raised,  almost  as  one  is  transported  in  dreams,  from 
hunting  to  warriorship ;  from  that  again  to  riches  and  no 
bility  ;  so  lately  contented,  though  at  peril  of  life,  to  look 
from  afar  at  the  house  in  which  the  princess  Nenetzin  slept ; 
now  her  betrothed,  and  so  pronounced  by  the  great  king 
himself,  —  what  wonder  that  he  loitered  at  the  palace  1  Yet 
it  was  not  late,  — •  in  fact,  on  the  horizon  still  shone  the  tint, 
the  last  and  faintest  of  the  day,  —  when  he  and  Io'  came  out, 
and,  arm  in  arm,  took  their  way  down  the  hill  to  the  land 
ing.  What  betides  the  lover  1  Is  the  mistress  coy  ?  Or 
runs  he  away  at  call  of  some  grim  duty  ? 

Out  of  the  high  gate,  down  the  terraced  descent,  past  the 


316  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


aveime  of  ghostly  cypresses,  until  their  sandals  struck  the 
white  shells  of  the  landing,  they  silently  went. 

"  Is  it  not  well  with  you,  my  brother  1 "  asked  the  prince, 
stopping  where  the  boats,  in  keeping  of  their  crews,  were 
lying. 

"  Thank  you  for  that  word,"  Hualpa  replied.  "  It  is 
better  even  than  comrade.  Well  with  me?  I  look  my 
fortune  in  the  face,  and  am  dumb.  If  I  should  belie 
expectation,  if  I  should  fall  from  such  a  height !  O 
Mother  of  the  World,  save  me  from  that !  I  would  rather 
die  !  " 

"  But  you  will  not  fail,"  said  Io',  sympathetically. 

"  The  gods  keep  the  future ;  they  only  know.  The 
thought  came  to  me  as  I  sat  at  the  feet  of  Tula  and  Nenet- 
zin,  —  came  to  me  like  a  taste  of  bitter  in  a  cup  of  sweets. 
Close  after  followed  another  even  stronger,  —  how  could  I  be 
so  happy,  and  our  comrade  over  the  lake  so  miserable  ?  We 
know  how  he  has  hoped  and  worked  and  lived  for  Avhat  the 
morrow  is  to  bring  :  shall  he  not  be  notified  even  of  its 
nearness  1  You  have  heard  the  sound  of  the  war-drum : 
what  is  it  like  1 " 

"  Like  the  roll  of  thunder." 

"  Well,  when  the  thunder  crosses  the  lake,  and  strikes  his 
ear,  saying,  '  Up,  the  war  is  here ! '  he  will  come  to  the  door, 
and  down  to  the  water's  edge ;  there  he  must  stop  ;  and  as 
he  looks  wistfully  to  the  city,  and  strains  his  ear  to  catch 
the  notes  of  the  combat,  will  he  not  ask  for  us,  and,  ac 
cuse  us  of  forgetfulness  1  Rather  than  that,  0  my  brother, 
let  my  fortune  all  go  back  to  its  giver." 

"  I  understand  you  now,"  said  the  prince,  softly. 

"  Yes,"  Hualpa  continued,  "  I  am  to  be  at  the  temple  by 
the  break  of  day ;  but  the  night  is  mine,  and  I  will  go  to 
the  'tzin,  my  first  friend,  of  Analmac  the  soul,  as  Nenet- 
zin  is  the  flower." 


HOW  THE  IRON  CROSS  CAME  BACK.  317 

"And  I  will  go  with  you." 

"No,  you  cannot.     You  have  not  permission.     So  fare 
well." 

"  Until  to-morrow,"  said  Io'. 

"  In  the  temple,"  answered  Hualpa. 


CHAPTEE  X. 

HOW   THE   IRON   CROSS   CAME   BACK. 

10'  stayed  at  the  landing  awhile,  nursing  the  thought  left 
him  by  his  comrade.  And  he  was  still  there,  the  plash 
of  the  rowers  of  the  receding  canoe  in  his  ear,  when  the 
great  gate  of  the  palace  gave  exit  to  another  person,  this 
time  a  girl.  The  guards  on  duty  paid  her  no  attention. 
She  was  clad  simply  and  poorly,  and  carried  a  basket. 
Around  the  hill  were  scores  of  gardeners'  daughters  like 
her. 

From  the  avenue  she  turned  into  a  path  which,  through 
one  of  the  fields  below,  led  her  to  an  inlet  of  the  lake, 
where  the  market-people  were  accustomed  to  moor  their 
canoes.  The  stars  gave  light,  but  too  feebly  to  reclaim  any 
thing  from  the  darkness.  Groping  amongst  the  vessels,  she 
at  length  entered  one,  and,  seating  herself,  pushed  clear  of 
the  land,  and  out  in  the  lake  toward  the  glow  in  the  sky 
beneath  which  reposed  the  city. 

Like  the  night,  the  lake  was  calm ;  therefore,  no  fear  for 
the  adventuress.  The  boat,  under  her  hand,  had  not  the 
speed  of  the  king's  when  driven  by  his  twelve  practised 
rowers ;  yet  she  was  its  mistress,  and  it  obeyed  her  kindly. 
But  why  the  journey  1  Why  alone  on  the  water  at  such  a 
time? 


318  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


Half  an  hour  of  steady  work.  The  city  was,  of  course, 
much  nearer.  At  the  same  time,  the  labor  began  to  tell ;  the 
reach  of  her  paddle  was  not  so  great  as  at  the  beginning,  nor 
was  the  dip  so  deep  ;  her  breathing  Avas  less  free,  and  some 
times  she  stopped  to  draw  a  dripping  hand  across  her  fore- 
,head.  Surely,  this  is  not  a  gardener's  daughter. 
',  Voyageurs  now  became  frequent.  Most  of  them  passed  by 
with  the  salutation  usual  on  the  lake,  —  "  The  blessings  of 
the  gods  upon  you  !  "  Once  she  was  in  danger.  A  canoe  full 
of  singers,  and  the  singers  full  of  pulque,  came  down  at 
speed  upon  her  vessel.  Happily,  the  blow  was  given  ob 
liquely  ;  the  crash  suspended  the  song ;  the  wassailers 
sprang  to  their  feet ;  seeing  only  a  girl,  and  no  harm  done, 
they  drew  off,  laughing.  "  Out  with  your  lamp  next  time  ! " 
shouted  one  of  them.  A  law  of  the  lake  required  some 
such  signal  at  night. 

In  the  flurry  of  the  collision,  a  tamane,  leaning  over  the 
bow  of  the  strange  canoe,  swung  a  light  almost  in  the  girl's 
face.  With  a  cry,  she  shrank  away  ;  as  she  did  so,  from  her 
bosom  fell  a  shining  cross.  To  the  dull  slave  the  symbol  told 
no  tale ;  but,  good  reader,  we  know  that  there  is  but  one 
maiden  in  all  Anahuac  who  wears  such  a  jewel,  and  we 
know  for  whom  she  wears  that  one.  By  the  light  of  that 
cross,  we  also  know  the  weary  passenger  is,  not  a  gardener's 
daughter,  but  Nenetzin,  the  princess. 

And  the  wonder  grows.  What  does  the  'tzin  Nene  —  so 
they  called  her  in  the  days  they  swung  her  to  sleep  in  the 
swinging  cradle  —  out  so  far  alone  on  the  lake  1  And  where 
goes  she  in  such  guise,  this  night  of  all  others,  and  now 
when  the  kiss  of  her  betrothed  is  scarcely  cold  on  her  lips  ] 
Where  are  the  slaves  1  Where  the  signs  of  royalty  1  As 
prayed  by  the  gentle  voyageurs,  the  blessings  of  the  gods  may 
be  upon  her,  but  much  I  doubt  if  she  has  her  mother's, 
almost  us  holy. 


HOW  THE  IRON   CROSS  CAME  BACK.  319 

Slowly  now  she  wins  her  way.  The  paddle  grows 
heavier  in  her  unaccustomed  hands.  On  her  brow  gathers 
a  dew  which  is  neither  of  the  night  nor  the  lake.  She  is 
not  within  the  radius  of  the  temple  lights,  yet  stops  to  rest, 
and  bathe  her  palms  in  the  cooling  waves.  Later,  when  the 
wall  of  the  city,  close  by,  stretches  away  on  either  side,  far 
reaching,  a  margin  of  darkness  under  the  illuminated  sky, 
the  canoe  seems  at  last  to  conquer ;  it  floats  at  will  idly  as  a 
log ;  and  in  that  time  the  princess  sits  motionless  as  the 
boat,  lapsed  in  revery.  Her  purpose,  if  she  has  one,  may 
have  chilled  in  the  solitude  or  weakened  under  the  labor. 
Alas,  if  the  purpose  be  good !  If  evil,  help  her,  0  sweet 
Mary,  Mother ! 

The  sound  of  paddles  behind  her  broke  the  spell.  With 
a  hurried  glance  over  her  shoulder,  she  bent  again  to  the 
task,  and  there  was  no  more  hesitation.  She  gained  the 
wall,  and  passed  in,  taking  the  first  canal.  By  the  houses, 
and  through  the  press  of  canoes,  and  under  the  bridges,  to 
the  heart  of  the  city,  she  went.  On  the  steps  bordering  a 
basin  close  to  the  street  which  had  been  Cortes'  line  of 
march  the  day  of  the  entry,  she  landed,  and,  ascending  to 
the  thoroughfare,  set  out  briskly,  basket  in  hand,  her  face  to 
the  south.  With  never  a  look  to  the  right  or  left,  never  a 
response  to  the  idlers  on  the  pavement,  she  hurried  down 
the  street.  The  watchers  on  the  towers  sung  the  hour ; 
she  scarcely  heard  them.  At  last  she  reached  the  great 
temple.  A  glance  at  the  coatapantli,  one  at  the  shadowy 
sanctuaries,  to  be  sure  of  the  locality  ;  then  her  eyes  fell  upon 
the  palace  of  Axaya',  and  she  stopped.  The  street  to  this 
point  had  been  thronged  with  people  ;  here  there  were  none ; 
the  strangers  were  by  themselves.  The  main  gate  of  the 
ancient  house  stood  half  open,  and  she  saw  the  wheels 
of  gun-carriages,  and  now  and  then  a  Christian  soldier 
pacing  Ids  round,  slowly  and  grimly ;  of  the  little  host,  he 


320  THE   FAIR   GOD. 

alone  gave  signs  of  life.  Over  the  walls  she  heard  the 
stamp  of  horses'  feet,  and  once  a  neigh,  shrill  and  loud. 
The  awe  of  the  Indian  in  presence  of  the  white  man  seized 
her,  and  she  looked  and  listened,  half  frightened,  half  wor 
shipful,  with  but  one  clear  sense,  and  that  was  of  the  near 
ness  of  the  Tonatiah. 

A  sound  of  approaching  feet  disturbed  her,  and  she  ran 
across  to  the  gate ;  at  once  the  purpose  which  had  held  her 
silent  on  the  azoteas,  which  prompted  her  ready  acquiescence 
in  the  betrothal  to  Hualpa,  which  had  sustained  her  in  the 
passage  of  the  lake,  was  revealed.  She  was  seeking  her 
lover  to  save  him. 

She  would  have  passed  through  the  gateway,  but  for  a 
number  of  lances  dropped  with  their  points  almost  against 
her  breast.  What  with  fear  of  those  behind  and  of  those 
before  her,  she  almost  died.  On  the  pavement,  outside 
the  entrance,  she  was  lying  when  Alvarado  came  to  the 
rescue.  The  guard  made  way  for  him  quickly  ;  for  in  his 
manner  was  the  warning  which  nothing  takes  from  words, 
not  even  threats ;  verily,  it  had  been  as  Avell  to  attempt  to 
hinder  a  leaping  panther.  He  threw  the  lances  up,  and 
knelt  by  her,  saying  tenderly,  "  Nenetzin,  Nenetzin,  poor 
child  !  It  is  I,  —  come  to  save  you !  " 

She  half  arose,  and,  smiling  through  her  tears,  clasped  her 
hands,  and  cried,  "  Tonatiah  !  Tonatiah  !  " 

There  are  times  when  a  look,  a  gesture,  a  tone  of  the  voice, 
do  all  a  herald's  part.  What  need  of  speech  to  tell  the 
Spaniard  why  the  truant  was  there  1  The  poor  disguise,  the 
basket,  told  of  flight ;  her  presence  at  that  hour  said,  "  I 
have  come  to  thee  "  ;  the  cross  returned,  the  tears,  the  joy  at 
sight  of  him,  certified  her  love  ;  and  so,  when  she  put  her 
arm  around  his  neck,  and  the  arrow,  not  yet  taken  away, 
rattled  against  his  corselet,  to  his  heart  there  shot  a  pain  st 
sharp  and  quick  it  seemed  as  if  the  very  soul  of  him  wa^ 
going  out. 


HOW   THE  IRON   CROSS   CAME  BACK.  321 

He  raised  lier  gently,  and  carried  her  through  the  entrance. 
The  rough  men  looking  on  saw  upon  his  cheek  what,  if  the 
cheek  had  been  a  woman's,  they  would  have  sworn  was  a  tear. 

"  Ho,  Marina ! "  he  cried  to  the  wondering  interpreter. 
"  I  bring  thee  a  bird  dropped  too  soon  from  the  nest.  The 
hunter  hath  chased  the  poor  thing,  and  here  is  a  bolt  in  its 
wing.  Give  place  in  thy  cot,  while  I  go  for  a  doctor,  and 
room  with  thee,  that  malice  hurt  not  a  good  name." 

And  at  the  sight  the  Indian  woman  was  touched ;  she  ran 
to  the  cot,  smoothed  the  pillow  of  feathers,  and  said,  "  Here, 
rest  her  here,  and  run  quickly.  I  will  care  for  her." 

He  laid  her  down  tenderly,  but  she  clung  to  his  hand,  and 
said  to  Marina,  "  He  must  not  go.  Let  him  first  hear  what 
I  have  to  say." 

"  But  you  are  hurt." 

"  It  is  nothing,  nothing.     He  must  stay." 

So  earnestly  did  she  speak,  that  the  captain  changed  his 
mind.  "  Yery  well.  What  is  spoken  in  pain  should  be 
spoken  quickly.  I  will  stay." 

Nenetzin  caught  the  assent,  and  went  on  rapidly.  "  Let 
him  know  that  to-morrow  at  noon  the  drum  in  the  great  tem 
ple  will  be  beaten,  and  the  bridges  taken  up,  and  then  there 
will  be  war." 

"  By  the  saints  !  she  bringeth  doughty  news,"  said  Alva- 
rado,  in  his  voice  of  soldier.  "  Ask  her  where  she  got  it ) 
ask  her,  as  you  love  us,  Marina." 

"  From  my  father,  —  from  the  king  himself." 

"  And  this  is  child  of  Montezuma  !  "  cried  Marina. 

"  The  princess  Nenetzin,"  said  the  cavalier.  "  But  stay  not 
so.  Ask  her  when  and  where  she  heard  the  news." 

"  To-day,  at  Chapultepec." 

"  What  of  the  particulars  1  How  is  the  war  to  be  made  1 
What  are  the  preparations  ]  " 

"  The  lord  Cuitlahua  is  to  t?ke  up  the  bridges.    Maize  and 
H*  v 


322  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


meat  will  be  furnished  to-morrow  only.  About  the  great  tem 
ple  now  there  are  ten.  thousand  warriors  for  an  attack,  and 
elsewhere  in  the  city  there  are  seventy  thousand  more." 

"  Enough,"  said  Alvarado,  kissing  the  little  hand.  "  Look 
now  to  the  hurt,  Marina.  Bring  the  light ;  mayhap  we  can 
take  the  bolt  away  ourselves." 

Marina  knelt,  and  examined  the  wounded  arm,  and  shortly 
held  up  the  arrow. 

"  Good  !  "  the  cavalier  said.  "  Thou  art  a  doctor,  indeed, 
Marina.  In  the  schools  at  home  they  give  students  big-let 
tered  parchments.  I  will  do  better  by  thee  ;  I  will  cover  the 
arm  that  did  this  surgery  with  bracelets  of  gold.  Eun  now, 
and  bring  cloth  and  water.  The  blood  thou  seest  trickling 
here  is  from  her  heart,  which  loveth  me  too  dearly  to  suiter 
such  waste.  Haste  thee  !  haste  thee  !  " 

They  bathed  the  wound,  and  applied  the  bandages,  though 
all  too  roughly  to  suit  the  cavalier,  who,  thereupon,  turned 
to  go,  saying,  "  Sit  thou  there,  Marina,  and  leave  her  not, 
except  to  do  her  will.  Tell  her  I  will  return,  and  to  be  at 
rest,  for  she  is  safe  as  in  her  father's  house.  If  any  do  but 
look  at  her  wrongfully,  they  shall  account  to  me.  So,  by  my 
mother's  cross,  I  swear  !  " 

And  he  hurried  back  to  the  audience-chamber,  where  the 
council  was  yet  in  session.  While  he  related  what  had  been 
told  by  Nenetzin,  a  deep  silence  pervaded  the  assemblage, 
and  the  brave  men,  from  looking  at  each  other,  turned,  with 
singular  unanimity,  to  Cortes  ;  who,  thus  appealed  to,  threw 
off  his  affectation,  and  standing  up,  spoke,  so  as  to  be  heard 
by  all,  — 

"  Comrades,  soldiers,  gentlemen,  let  there  be  no  words 
more.  The  step  you  have  urged  upon  me,  in  the  name  of 
the  army,  I  hesitated  to  take.  I  grant  you,  I  hesitated ; 
but  not  from  love  of  the  soft-tongued,  lying,  pagan  king. 
Bethink  ye.  We  left  Cuba  hastily,  -as  ye  all  remember, 


HOW  THE  IRON  CROSS  CAME  BACK.  323 

because  of  a  design  to  arrest  us  there  as  malefactors  and 
traitors.  Now,  when  our  enemies  in  that  island  hear  from 
our  expedition,  and  have  told  them  all  its  results,  —  the 
wealth  we  have  won,  and  the  country,  cities,  peoples,  and 
empire  discovered,  —  envy  and  jealousy  will  pursue  us,  and 
false  tongues  go  back  to  Spain,  and  fill  the  ears  of  our 
royal  master  with  reports  intended  to  rob  us  of  our  glory 
and  despoil  us  of  our  hire.  How  could  I  know  but  the 
seizure  in  question  might  be  magnified  into  impolicy  and 
cruelty,  and  furnish  cause  for  disgrace,  imprisonment,  and 
forfeiture  1  For  that  I  hesitated.  This  news,  however,  end- 
eth  doubt  and  debate.  The  over-cunning  king  hath  put 
himself  outside  of  mercy  or  compassion ;  we  are  compelled 
to  undo  him.  So  far,  well.  Let  me  remind  ye  now,  that 
the  news  of  which  I  speak  hath  in  it  a  warning  which  it 
were  sinful  not  to  heed.  Yesterday  the  great  infidel  was  at 
our  mercy  ;  not  more  difficult  his  capture  then  than  a  visit 
to  his  palace  ;  but  now,  in  all  the  histories  of  bold  perform 
ances,  nothing  bolder,  —  nothing  of  the  Cid's,  nothing  of  King 
Arthur's.  In  the  heart  of  his  capital  we  are  to  make  pris 
oner  him,  the  head  of  millions,  the  political  ruler  and  relig 
ious  chief,  not  merely  secure  in  the  love  and  fear  of  his  sub 
jects,  but  in  the  height  of  his  careful  preparation  for  war,  in 
the  centre  of  his  camp,  within  call,  nay,  under  the  eyes,  of 
his  legions,  numbering  thousands  where  we  number  tens. 
Take  ye  each,  my  brave  brethren,  the  full  measure  of  the 
design,  and  then  tell  me,  in  simple  words,  how  it  may  be 
best  done.  And  among  ye,  let  him  speak  who  can  truly  say, 
I  dare  do  what  my  tongue  delivereth.  I  wait  your  answer." 
And  in  the  chamber  there  again  fell  a  hush  so  deep  that 
those  present  might  well  have  been  taken  for  ghosts.  The 
idea  as  first  seen  by  them  was  commonplace ;  under  his  de 
scription,  it  became  heroic  ;  and  struggling,  as  he  suggested, 
to  measure  it  each  for  himself,  all  were  dumb. 


324  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Good  gentlemen,"  said  Cortes,  smiling,  "  why  so  laggard 
now  1  Speak,  Diaz  del  Castillo.  Offer  what  thou  canst." 

The  good  soldier,  and  afterward  good  chronicler,  of  the 
conquest  and  its  trials,  this  one  among  the  rest,  replied,  "  I 
confess,  Seiior,  the  enterprise  is  difficult  beyond  my  first 
thought.  I  confess,  also,  to  more  reflection  about  its  neces- 
;sity  than  its  achievement.  To  answer  truthfully,  at  this 
time  I  see  but  one  way  to  the  end ;  and  that  is,  to  invite  the 
monarch  here  under  some  sufficient  pretence,  and  then  lay 
hands  on  him." 

"  Are  ye  all  of  the  same  minds,  gentlemen  1 " 

There  was  a  murmur  of  assent,  whereupon  Cortes  arose 
from  leaning  upon  his  sword,  and  said,  sharply,  — 

"  To  hear  ye,  gentlemen,  one  would  think  the  summer  all 
before  us  in  which  to  interchange  courtesies  with  the  royal 
barbarian.  What  is  the  fact  ?  At  noon  to-morrow  our  hours 
of  grace  expire.  A  beat  of  drum,  and  then  assault,  and 
after  that," — he  paused,  looking  grimly  round  the  circle, 
—  "  and  after  that,  sacrifices  to  the  gods,  I  suppose." 

There  was  a  general  movement  and  outcry.  Some  griped 
their  arms,  others  crossed  themselves.  Cortes  saw  and  pressed 
his  advantage. 

"  I  shall  not  take  your  advice,  Bernal  Diaz ;  not  I,  by  my 
conscience  !  Heaven  helping  me,  I  expect  to  see  old  Spain 
again ;  and  more,  I  expect  to  take  these  comrades  back  with 
me,  rich  in  glory  and  gold."  Then,  to  the  officers  behind 
him,  he  said,  in  his  ordinary  tone  of  command,  "  Ordas,  do 
thou  bid  the  carpenters  prepare  quarters  in  this  palace  for 
Montezuma  and  his  court ;  and  let  them  begin  their  work  to 
night,  for  he  will  be  our  guest  before  noon  to-morrow.  And 
thou,  Leon,  thou,  Lugo,  thou,  Avila,  and  thou,  Sandoval,  get 
ye  ready  to  go  with  me  to  the  —  " 

"  And  1 1 "  asked  Alvarado. 

"  Thou  shalt  go  also." 


THE  CHRISTIAN  TAKES  CARE  OF  HIS  OWN.  325 

"  And  the  army,  Senor  1 "  Diaz  suggested. 

"  The  anny  shall  remain  in  quarters." 

Never  man's  manner  more  calm,  never  man  more  abso 
lutely  assured.  The  listeners  warmed  with  admiration.  As 
unconscious  of  the  effect  he  was  working,  he  went  on,  — 

"  I  have  shown  the  difficulties  of  the  enterprise  ;  now  I 
<  say  further,  the  crisis  of  the  expedition  is  upon  us :  if  I  suc 
ceed,  all  is  won ;  if  I  fail,  all  is  lost.  In  such  strait,  what 
should  we  do  between  this  and  then  ?  Let  us  not  trust  in 
our  cunning  and  strength  :  we  are  Christians  :  as  such,  put 
we  our  faith  in  Christ  and  the  Holy  Mother.  Olmedo, 
father,  go  thou  to  the  chapel,  and  get  ready  the  altar.  The 
night  to  confession  and  prayer  •  and  let  the  morning  find  us 
on  our  knees  shrieved  and  blessed.  We  are  done,  comrades. 
Let  the  chamber  be  cleared.  To  the  chapel  all." 

And  they  did  the  bidding  cheerfully.  All  night  the  good 
father  was  engaged  in  holy  work,  confessing,  shrieving,  pray 
ing.  So  the  morning  found  them. 


CHAPTER  XL 

THE    CHRISTIAN    TAKES    CARE   OP    HIS   OWN. 

HUALPA  returned  to  the  city  about  the  time  the  stars, 
which  in  that  clime  and  season  herald  the  morning, 
take  their  places  in  the  sky..  He  had  lightened  his  heart, 
and  received  the  sympathy  of  a  lover  in  return ;  he  had  told 
the  great  things  done  and  promised  by  the  king,  and  sor 
rowed  that  his  friend  could  take  no  part  in  the  events  which, 
he  imagined,  were  to  make  the  day  heroic  forever ;  and  now, 
his  enthusiasm  of  youth  sobered  by  the  plaints  to  which  he 
had  listened  while  traversing  the  dusky  walks  of  the  beau- 


32b'  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


tiful  garden,  he  clomb  the  stairs  of  the  teocaliis.  Before 
the  day  was  fairly  dawned,  he  was  at  his  post,  waiting, 
dreaming  of  Nenetzin,  and  hearkening  to  the  spirit-songs  of 
ambition,  always  so  charming  to  unpractised  souls. 

And  the  lord  Cuitlahua  perfected  his  measures.  On  all 
the  dikes,  and  at  the  entrance  of  all  the  canals,  guards  were 
stationed.  The  bridges  nearest  the  palace  occupied  by  the 
strangers  were  held  by  chosen  detachments.  Except  those 
thus  detailed,  the  entire  military  in  the  city  were  pent  in  the 
temples.  And  to  all,  including  the  lord  steward,  the  proper 
orders  were  confided.  All  awaited  the  signal. 

And  the  king,  early  in  the  night,  ignorant  of  the  flight 
of  Nenetzin,  had  come  from  Chapultepec  to  his  palace  in  the 
capital.  He  retired  as  he  was  wont,  and  slept  the  sleep  as 
restful  to  a  mind  long  distracted  by  irresolution  as  to  a 
body  exhausted  by  labor ;  such  slumber  as  comes  to  him  who, 
in  time  of  doubt,  involving  all  dearest  interests,  at  last  dis 
covers  what  his  duty  is,  and,  fully  determined,  simply  awaits 
the  hour  of  performance,  trustful  of  the  action  taken,  and  of 
the  good-will  of  the  god  or  gods  of  his  faith. 

On  the  side  of  the  Christians,  the  preparation,  more  sim 
ple,  was  also  complete.  From  mass  the  little  host  went  to 
breakfast,  then  to  arms.  The  companies  formed  ;  even  the 
Tlascalans  behaved  as  if  impressed  with  a  sense  that  their 
fate  had  been  challenged. 

To  the  captains,  again  convoked  in  the  audience-chamber, 
Cortes  detailed  his  plan  of  operation.  His  salutation  of  each 
Avas  grave  and  calm.  Though  very  watchful,  they  heard  him 
without  question ;  and  when  they  went  out,  they  might 
have  said,  The  hour  of  trial  is  come,  and  now  will  be  seen 
which  holds  the  conquering  destiny,  —  the  God  of  the  Chris 
tian  or  that  of  the  Aztec. 

From  the  council,  Alvarado  went  first  to  Marina ;  finding 
that  Nenetzin  slept,  he  joined  his  companions  in  the  great 


THE  CHRISTIAN  TAKES  CARE  OF  HIS  OWN.  327 

court,  where,  gay  and  careless,  he  carolled  a  song,  and  twirled 
his  sword,  and,  in  thought  of  smiling  fortune  and  a  princely 
Indian  love,  walked  complacently  to  and  fro.  And  so  wait, 
ready  for  action,  the  Christian  lover  and  the  heathen,  —  one 
in  the  palace,  the  other  in  the  temple,  —  both,  in  fancy, 
lord  of  the  same  sweet  mistress. 

At  the  stated  hour,  as  had  been  the  custom,  the  three 
lords  came,  in  splendid  costume,  and  with  stately  ceremonial, 
bringing  the  king's  compliments,  and  asking  Cortes  will 
for  the  day.  And  they  returned  with  compliments  equally 
courteous  and  deceptive,  taking  with  them  Orteguilla,  the 
page,  instructed  to  inform  the  monarch  that  directly,  if  such 
were  the  royal  pleasure,  Malinche  would  be  happy  to  visit 
him  in  his  palace. 

A  little  later  there  went  out  parties  of  soldiers,  apparently 
to  view  the  city ;  yet  the  point  was  noticeable  that,  besides  be 
ing  fully  armed,  each  was  in  charge  of  a  chosen  subor 
dinate.  Later,  the  army  was  drawn  up,  massed  in  the  gar 
den  ;  the  matches  of  the  gunners  were  lighted  ;  the  horse 
men  stood  at  their  bridles ;  the  Tlascalans  were  stationed 
to  defend  the  outer  walls.  De  Oli,  Morla,  Marin,  and 
Monjarez  passed  through  the  lines  in  careful  inspection. 

"  Heard'st  thou  when  the  drum  was  to  be  sounded  1 "  asked 
Pe  Oli,  looking  to  the  sun. 

"  At  noon,"  answered  Marin. 

"  Three  hours  yet,  as  I  judge.    Short  time,  by  Our  Lady  ! " 

The  party  was  impatient.  To  their  relief,  Cortes  at  last 
came  out,  with  his  five  chosen  cavaliers,  Sandoval,  Alvarado, 
Leon,  Avila,  and  Lugo.  As  he  proceeded  to  the  gate,  all 
eyes  turned  to  him,  all  hearts  became  confident,  —  so  much 
of  power  over  the  weak  is  there  in  the  look  of  one  master 
spirit. 

At  the  gate  he  waited  for  the  Dona  Marina. 

"  Are  ye  ready,  gentlemen  1 " 


328  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  All  ready,"  they  replied. 

"  With  thee,  De  Oli,  I  leave  the  command.  At  sight  or 
sound  of  attack  or  combat,  come  quickly.  Charge  straight 
to  the  palace,  lances  in  the  lead.  Bring  our  horses.  Fare 
well.  Christ  and  the  Mother  for  us  !  "  And  with  that, 
Cortes  stepped  into  the  street. 

For  a  time  the  party  proceeded  silently. 

"  Is  not  this  what  the  pagans  call  the  beautiful  street  1 " 
Sandoval  asked. 

"  Why  the  question  ?  " 

"  I  have  gone  through  graveyards  not  more  deserted." 

"  Thou  'rt  right,"  said  Lugo.  "  By  Our  Lady  !  when  last 
we  went  this  way,  I  remember  the  pavements,  doors,  porticos, 
and  roofs  were  crowded.  Now,  not  a  woman  or  a  child." 

"  In  faith,  Senor,  we  are  a  show  suddenly  become  stale." 

"  Be  it  so,"  replied  Leon,  sneeringly.  "  We  will  give  the 
public  a  new  trick." 

"  Mirad,  Senores  !  "  said  Cortes.  "  Last  night,  all  through 
this  district,  particularly  along  this  street,  there  went  patrols, 
removing  the  inhabitants,  and  making  ready  for  what  the 
drum  is  advertised  to  let  loose  upon  us.  Don  Pedro,  thy 
princess  hath  told  the  truth."  And  looking  back  to  the 
towers  of  the  teocallis,  he  added,  after  a  fit  of  laughter,  "  The 
fools,  the  swine  !  They  have  undone  themselves ;  or,  rather," 
—  his  face  became  grave  on  the  instant,  —  "  the  Holy  Mother 
hath  undone  them  for  us.  Give  thanks,  gentlemen,  our  em 
prise  is  already  won  !  Yonder  the  infidel  general  hath  his 
army  in  waiting  for  the  word  of  the  king.  Keep  we  that 
unspoken  or  undelivered,  —  only  that,  —  and  the  way  of  our 
return,  prisoner  in  hand,  will  be  as  clear  of  armed  men  as 
the  going  is." 

The  customary  guard  of  nobles  kept  the  portal  of  the 
palace  ;  the  antechamber,  however,  was  crowded  to  its  full 
capacity  with  unarmed  courtiers,  through  whom  the  Chris- 


THE  CHRISTIAN  TAKES  CARE  OF  HIS  OWN.  329 

tians  passed  with  grave  assurance.  To  acquaintances  Cortes 
bowed  courteously.  Close  by  the  door  of  the  audience-cham 
ber,  he  found  Orteguilla  conversing  with  Maxtla,  who,  at 
sight  of  him,  knelt,  and,  touching  the  floor  with  his  palm, 
offered  to  conduct  the  party  to  the  royal  presence ;  such 
were  his  orders.  Cortes  stopped  an  instant. 

"  Hath  the  king  company  1 "  he  asked  Orteguilla. 

"  None  of  account,  —  a  boy  and  three  or  four  old  men." 

"He  is  ours.     Let  us  on,  gentlemen  !  " 

And  forthwith  they  passed  under  the  curtains  held  aside 
for  them  by  Maxtla. 

On  a  dais  covered  with  a  carpet  of  plumaje,  the  monarch 
sat.  Three  venerable  men  stood  behind  him.  At  his  feet, 
a  little  to  the  right,  was  the  prince  Io',  in  uniform.  A  flood 
of  light  poured  through  a  window  on  the  northern  side  of 
the  chamber,  and  fell  full  on  the  group,  bringing  out  with 
intense  clearness  the  rich  habiliments  of  the  monarch,  and 
every  feature  of  his  face.  The  Christians  numbered  the  at 
tendance,  and,  trained  to  measure  dangers  and  discover  advan 
tages  by  a  glance,  smiled  at  the  confidence  of  the  treacherous 
heathen.  Upon  the  stillness,  broken  only  by  their  ringing 
tread,  sped  the  voice  of  Cortes. 

"  Alvarado,  Lugo,  all  of  ye,  watch  well  whom  we  have 
here.  On  your  lives,  see  that  the  boy  escape  not." 

Montezuma  kept  his  seat. 

"  The  gods  keep  you  this  pleasant  morning,"  he  said.  "  I 
am  glad  to  see  you." 

They  bowed  to  him,  and  Cortes  replied,  — 

"  We  thank  thee,  good  king.  May  the  Holy  Virgin,  of 
our  Christian  faith,  have  thee  in  care.  Thus  pray  we,  than 
whom  thou  hast  no  truer  servants." 

"  If  you  prefer  to  sit,  I  will  have  seats  brought." 

"  We  thank  thee  again.  In  the  presence  of  our  master,  it 
is  the  custom  to  stand,  and  he  would  hold  us  discourteous  if 


330  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


we  did  otherwise  before  a  sovereign  friend  as  dear  to  him  as 
thou  art,  great  king." 

The  monarch  waved  his  hand. 

"  Your  master  is  no  doubt  a  rare  and  excellent  sovereign," 
he  said,  then  changed  the  subject.  "  The  lords,  whom  I 
sent  to  you  this  morning,  reported  that  all  goes  well  with 
you  in  the  palace.  I  hope  so.  If  anything  is  wanted,  you 
have  only  to  speak.  My  provinces  are  at  your  service." 

"  The  lords  reported  truly." 

"  I  am  very  glad.  Thinking  of  you,  Malinche,  and  study 
ing  to  make  your  contentment  perfect,  I  have  wondered  if 
you  have  any  amusements  or  games  with  which  to  pass  the 
time." 

As  there  were  not  in  all  the  New  World,  however  it  might 
be  in  the  Old,  more  desperate  gamblers  than  the  cavaliers, 
they  looked  at  each  other  when  the  ti-anslation  was  concluded, 
and  smiled  at  the  simplicity  of  the  speaker.  Nevertheless, 
Cortes  replied  with  becoming  gravity,  — 

"  We  have  our  pastimes,  good  king,  as  all  must  have  ;  for 
without  them,  nature  hath  ordered  that  the  body  shall  grow 
old  and  the  mind  incapable.  Our  pastimes,  however,  relate 
almost  entirely  to  war." 

"  That  is  labor,  Malinche." 

"  So  is  hunting,"  said  Cortes,  smiling. 

"  My  practice  is  not,"  answered  the  monarch,  taking  the 
remark  as  an  allusion  to  his  own  love  of  the  sport,  and 
laughing.  "  The  lords  drive  the  game  to  me,  and  my  pleas 
ure  is  in  exercising  the  skill  required  to  take  it.  Some  day 
you  must  go  with  me  to  my  preserves  over  the  lake,  and  I 
will  show  you  my  modes ;  but  I  did  not  mean  that  kind 
of  amusement.  I  will  explain  my  meaning.  Io',"  he 
said  to  the  prince,  who  had  arisen,  "  bid  Maxtla  bring 
hither  the  silver  balls.  I  will  teach  Malinche  to  play  toto 
loquf." 


THE  CHRISTIAN  TAKES  CARE  OF  HIS  OWN.  331 

"  Have  a  care,  gentlemen  !  "  said  Cortes,  divining  the  speech 
from  the  action  of  the  speaker.  "  The  lad  must  stay.  And 
thou,  Marina,  tell  him  so." 

The  comely,  gen  tie- hearted  Indian  woman  hastened  tremu 
lously  to  say,  "  Most  mighty  king,  Malinche  bids  me  tell 
thee  that  he  has  heard  of  the  beautiful  game,  and  will  be 
glad  to  learn  it,  but  not  now.  He  wishes  the  prince  to  re 
main." 

One  step  Io'  had  in  the  mean  time  taken,  —  but  one  ;  in 
front  of  him  Leon  stepped,  hand  on  sword,  and  menace  on 
his  brow.  The  blood  fled  the  monarch's  face. 

"  Go  not,"  he  at  length  said  to  the  boy  ;  and  to  Cortes,  "  I 
do  not  understand  you,  Malinche." 

The  time  of  demand  was  come.  Cortes  moved  nearer  the 
dais,  and  replied,  his  eyes  fixed  coldly  and  steadily  on  those 
of  the  victim,  — 

"  I  have  business  with  thee,  king ;  and  until  it  is  con 
cluded,  thou,  the  prince,  and  thy  councillors  must  stay.  Out 
cry,  or  attempt  at  escape,  will  be  at  peril  of  life." 

The  monarch  sat  upright,  pale  and  rigid  ;  the  ancients 
dropped  upon  their  knees.  Io'  alone  was  brave  ;  he  stepped 
upon  the  platform,  as  if  to  defend  the  royal  person.  Then 
in  the  same  cold,  inflexible  manner,  Cortes  proceeded,  — 

"  I  have  been  thy  guest,  false  king,  long  enough  to  learn 
thee  well.  The  power  which,  on  all  occasions,  thou  hast  been 
so  careful  to  impress  upon  me,  hath  but  made  thy  hypocrisy 
the  more  astonishing.  Listen,  while  I  expose  thee  to  thyself. 
"We  started  hither  at  thy  invitation.  In  Cholula,  neverthe 
less,  we  were  set  upon  by  the  army.  No  thanks  to  thee  that 
we  are  alive  to-day.  And,  in  the  same  connection,  when 
thou  wert  upbraided  for  inviting  us,  the  lords  and  princes 
were  told  that  such  was  the  instruction  of  one  of  thy  bloody 
gods,  who  had  promised  here  in  the  capital  to  deliver  us 
prisoners  for  sacrifice." 


332  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


Montezuma  offered  to  speak. 

"  Deny  it  not,  deny  it  not !  "  said  Cortes,  with  the  slight 
est  show  of  passion.  "  In  god  or  man,  such  perfidy  cannot 
be  excused.  But  that  is  not  all.  Say  nothing  about  the 
command  sent  the  troops  near  Tuzpan  to  attack  my  people  ; 
nor  about  the  demand  upon  townships  under  protection  of 
my  royal  master  for  women  and  children  to  feed  to  thy  hun 
gry  idols  ;  now  —  " 

Here  the  king  broke  in  upon  the  interpreter,  — 

"I  do  not  understand  what  Malinche  says  about  my 
troops  attacking  his  people  at  Tuzpan." 

"  Thy  governor  killed  one  of  my  captains." 

"  Not  by  my  order." 

"  Then  make  good  the  denial,  by  sending  for  the  officer 
who  did  the  murder,  that  he  may  be  punished  according  to 
the  wickedness  of  his  crime." 

The  king  took  a  signet  from  his  wrist,  and  said  to  one  of 
his  councillors,  "  Let  this  be  shown  to  the  governor  of  that 
province.  I  require  him  to  come  here  immediately,  with  all 
who  were  concerned  with  him  at  the  time  spoken  of  by  Ma 
linche." 

The  smile  with  which  the  monarch  then  turned  to  the 
Spaniard  was  lost  upon  him,  for  he  continued,  pitilessly  as 
before,  — 

"  The  punishment  of  the  governor  is  not  enough.  I  ac 
cuse  thee  further.  Thou  treacherous  king  !  Go  with  me  to 
the  temple,  and  now,  —  this  instant,  —  I  will  show  thee  thy 
brother,  with  an  army  at  call,  waiting  thy  signal  to  attack 
us  in  the  palace  where  so  lately  we  received  thy  royal 
welcome." 

The  listener  started  from  his  seat.  Upon  his  bewildered 
faculties  flashed  the  remembrance  of  how  carefully  and  with 
what  solemn  injunction  he  had  locked  his  plans  of  war  in 
the  breasts  of  the  members  of  his  family,  gathered  about  him 


THE  CHRISTIAN  TAKES  CARE  OF  HIS  OWN.  333 

oil  the  azoteas  at  Chapultepec.  His  faith  in  them  forbade 
suspicion.  Whence  then  the  exposure  ?  And  to  the  dealer 
in  mysteries  Mystery  answered,  "  The  gods  ! "  If  his  former 
faith  in  the  divinity  of  the  stranger  came  not  back,  now, 
at  least,  he  knew  him  sustained  by  powers  with  which  con 
tention  were  folly.  He  sunk  down  again  ;  his  head  dropped 
upon  his  struggling  breast ;  —  HE  WAS  CONQUERED  ! 

And  the  stern  Spaniard,  as  if  moved  by  the  sight,  said, 
in  a  softened  voice,  — 

•'  I  know  not  of  thy  religion ;  but  there  is  a  law  of 
ours,  —  a  mercy  of  the  dear  Christ  who  hath  us  in  his 
almighty  keeping,  —  by  which  every  sin  may  be  atoned  by 
sacrifices,  not  of  innocent  victims,  but  of  the  sinner's  self.  In 
the  world  I  come  from,  so  much  is  the  law  esteemed,  that 
kings  greater  than  thou  have  laid  down  their  crowns,  the 
better  to  avail  themselves  of  its  salvation.  Thou  art  an  un 
believer,  and  I  may  do  wrong,  —  if  so,  I  pray  pardon  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  that  heareth  me,  —  I  may  do  wrong,  I  say,  but, 
infidel  as  thou  art,  if  thou  wilt  obey  the  precept,  thou  shaft 
have  the  benefit  of  the  privilege.  I  do  not  want  war  which 
would  end  in  thy  destruction  and  the  ruin  of  thy  city  and 
people  ;  therefore  I  make  thee  a  proposal.  Hear  me  ! " 

The  unhappy  king  raised  his  head,  and  listened  eagerly. 

"  Arise,  and  go  with  us  to  our  quarters,  and  take  up  thy 
abode  there.  King  shalt  thou  continue.  Thy  court  can  go 
with  thee,  and  thou  canst  govern  from  one  palace  as  well 
as  another.  To  make  an  end  of  speech,"  —  and  Cortes 
raised  his  hand  tightly  clenched,  —  "to  make  an  end  of 
speech,  finally  and  plainly,  choose  now  :  go  with  us  or  die ! 
I  have  not  brought  these  officers  without  a  purpose." 

All  eyes  centred  on  the  pale  face  of  the  monarch,  and  the 
stillness  of  the  waiting  was  painful  and  breatliless.  At 
last,  from  the  depths  of  his  tortured  soul,  up  rose  a  sparkle 
of  resentment, 


334  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Who  ever  heard  of  a  great  prince,  like  myself,  volunta 
rily  leaving  his  own  palace  to  become  a  prisoner  in  the  hands 
of  a  stranger  1 " 

"  Prisoner  !  Not  so.  Hear  me  again.  Court,  household, 
and  powjr,  with  full  freedom  for  its  exercise,  and  the  treat 
ment  d^e  a  crowned  prince,  —  all  these  shalt  thou  have.  So, 
in  my  master's  name,  I  pledge  thee." 

"  No,  Malinche,  press  me  not  so  hardly.  Were  I  to  con 
sent  to  such  a  degradation,  my  people  would  not.  Take  one 
of  my  sons  rather.  This  one,"  —  and  he  laid  his  hand  on 
lo's  shoulder,  —  "  whom  I  love  best,  and  have  thought  to 
make  my  successor.  Take  him  as  hostage ;  but  spare  me 
this  infamy." 

The  debate  continued  ;  an  hour  passed. 

"  Gentlemen,  why  waste  words  on  this  wretched  barba 
rian]"  exclaimed  Leon,  at  last,  half  drawing  his  sword, 
while  his  face  darkened  with  dreadful  purpose.  "  We  can 
not  recede  now.  In  Christ's  name,  let  us  seize  him,  or 
plunge  our  swords  in  his  body  !  " 

The  captains  advanced,  baring  their  swords  ;  Cortes  retired 
a  step,  as  if  to  make  way  for  them.  Brief  time  remained  for 
decision.  Trembling  and  confused,  the  monarch  turned  to 
Marina,  and  asked,  "  What  did  the  teule  say  ? " 

As  became  a  gentle  woman,  fearful  lest  death,  be  done  be 
fore  her,  she  replied,  — 

"  0  king,  I  pray  you  make  no  further  objection.  If  you 
yield,  they  will  treat  you  kindly ;  if  you  refuse,  they  will 
kill  you.  Go  with  them,  I  pray  you.' 

Upon  the  advance  of  the  captains,  Io'  stepped  in  front  of 
the  king ;  as  they  hesitated,  either  waiting  Cortes'  order  or 
the  answer  to  Marina's  prayer,  he  knelt,  and  clasped  his 
father's  knees,  and  cried  tearfully,  — 

"  Do  not  go,  0  king  !  liather  than  endure  such  shame, 
let  us  die  !  " 


THE  CHRISTIAN  TAKES  CARE  OF  HIS  OWN.  335 

Stupefied,  almost  distraught,  the  monarch  seemed  not 
to  hear  the  heroic  entreaty.  His  gaze  was  on  the  face  of 
Cortes,  now  as  impenetrable  and  iron-like  as  the  armor  on 
his  breast.  "  The  gods  have  abandoned  me  !  "  he  cried, 
despairingly.  "  I  am  lost !  Malinche,  I  will  go  with  you  !  " 
His  head  drooped,  and  his  hands  fell  nerveless  on  the  chair. 

The  boy  arose,  and  turned  to  the  conquerors,  every  feature 
convulsed  with  hate. 

"  Thanks,  good  king,  thanks ! "  said  Cortes,  smiling. 
"  Thou  hast  saved  my  soul  a  sin.  I  will  be  thy  friend  till 
death  ! " 

Thereupon,  he  stepped  forward,  and  kissed  the  royal  hand, 
which  fell  from  his  lips  as  if  palsied  —  I  will  not  say  pro 
faned  —  by  the  touch.  And,  one  after  another,  Leon,  Lugo, 
Avila,  Alvarado,  and  Sandoval  approached,  and  knelt  on  the 
dais,  and  in  like  manner  saluted  the  fallen  prince. 

"  Are  you  done,  Malinche  1 "  the  victim  asked,  when 
somewhat  revived. 

"What  I  wish  now,  above  all  things,"  was  the  reply, 
spoken  with  rare  pretence  of  feeling,  "is  to  be  assured,  good 
king,  that  we  are  forgiven  the  pain  we  have  caused  thee, 
since,  though  of  our  doing,  it  was  not  of  our  will  as  much  as 
of  the  ambition  of  some  of  thy  own  lords  and  chiefs.  What 
I  desire  next  is,  that  thy  goodness  may  not  be  without  im 
mediate  results.  I  and  my  officers,  thy  son  and  these  coun.- 
cillors,  are  witnesses  that  thou  didst  consent  to  my  proposal 
out  of  great  love  of  peace  and  thy  people.  To  secure  the 
object,  — noble  beyond  praise,  — the  lords  here  in  the  pal 
ace,  and  those  of  influence  throughout  the  provinces,  must 
be  convinced  that  thou  dost  go  with  me  of  thine  own  free 
will ;  not  as  prisoner,  but  as  trusted  guest  returning  the  favor 
of  guest.  How  to  do  that  best  is  in  thy  knowledge  more 
than  mine.  Only,  what  thy  judgment  appro veth,  set  about 
quickly.  We  wait  thy  orders." 


336  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"Io',  uncles,"  said  Montezurna,  his  eyes  dim  with  tears, 
"  as  you  love  me,  be  silent  as  to  what  has  here  taken  place. 
I  charge  you  that  you  tell  it  to  no  man,  while  I  live.  Bid 
Maxtla  come." 

Summoning  all  his  strength  to  meet  the  shrewd  eyes  of 
the  chief,  the  monarch  sat  up  with  a  show  of  cheerfulness. 

"  Bring  my  palanquin,"  he  said,  after  Maxtla's  salutation ; 
•'  and  direct  some  of  the  elder  lords  to  be  ready  to  accom 
pany  me  without  arms  or  ceremony.  As  advised  by  Huitzil', 
and  these  good  uncles,  I  have  resolved  to  go,  and  for  a  time 
abide  with  Malinche  in  the  old  palace.  Send  an  officer,  with 
the  workmen,  to  prepare  quarters  for  my  use  and  that  of  the 
court.  Publish  my  intention.  Go  quickly." 

Afterwhile  from  the  palace  issued  a  procession  which  no 
man,  uninformed,  might  look  upon  and  say  was  not  a  funeral : 
in  the  palanquin,  the  dead  ;  on  its  right  and  left,  the  guard 
of  honor ;  behind,  the  friends,  a  long  train,  speechless  and 
sorrowing.  The  movement  was  quiet  and  solemn ;  three 
squares  and  as  many  bridges  were  passed,  when,  from  down 
the  street,  a  man  came  running  with  all  speed.  He  gained 
the  rear  of  the  cortege,  and  spoke  a  few  hurried  words  there ; 
a  murmur  arose,  and  spread,  and  grew  into  a  furious  outcry,  — 
a  moment  more,  and  the  cortege  was  dissolved  in  tumult.  At 
the  last  corner  on  the  way,  the  cavaliers  had  been  joined  by 
some  of  the  armed  parties,  who,  for  the  purpose,  had  preceded 
them  into  the  city  in  the  early  morning ;  these  closed  firmly 
around,  a  welcome  support. 

"  Miradf"  cried  Cortes,  loudly.  "The  varlets  are  with 
out  arms.  Let  no  one  strike  until  I  say  so." 

The  demonstration  increased.  Closer  drew  the  mob,  some 
adjuring  the  monarch,  some  threatening  the  Christians.  That 
an  understanding  of  the  situation  was  abroad  was  no  longer 
doubtful ;  still  Cortes  held  his  men  in  check,  for  he  knewx 
if  blood  were  shed  now,  the  common-sense  of  the  people 


THE  CHRISTIAN  TAKES  CARE  OF  HIS  OWN  337 

would  refuse  the  story  he  so  relied  upon,  —  that  the  king's 
coining  was  voluntary. 

"  Can  our  guest,"  he  asked  of  Sandoval,  "  be  sleeping  the 
while  ] " 

"  Treachery,  Senor." 

"  By  God's  love,  captain,  if  it  so  turn  out,  drive  thy  sword 
first  of  all  things  through  him  !  "  t 

While  yet  he  spoke,  the  curtains  of  the  carriage  were 
drawn  aside  ;  the  carriers  halted  instantly  ;  and  of  the  con 
course,  all  the  natives  fell  upon  their  knees,  and  became  still, 
so  that  the  voice  of  the  monarch  was  distinctly  heard. 

"  The  noise  disturbs  me,"  he  said,  in  ordinary  tone.  "  Let 
the  street  be  cleared." 

The  lords  whom  he  addressed  kept  their  faces  to  the 
ground. 

"  What  is  the  cause  of  the  clamor  1 " 

No  one  answered.  A  frown  was  gathering  upon  his  face, 
when  an  Aztec  sprang  up,  and  drew  near  him.  He  was 
dressed  as  a  citizen  of  the  lower  class.  At  the  side  of  the 
carriage  he  stopped,  and  touched  the  pavement  with  his  palm. 

"  Guatamozin  !  "  said  the  king,  more  in  astonishment  than 
anger. 

"  Even  so.  0  king,  —  father,  —  to  bear  a  soldier's  part 
to-day,  I  have  dared  your  judgment."  Lifting  his  eyes  to 
the  monarch's,  he  endured  his  gaze  steadily,  but,  at  the  same 
time,  with  such  an  expression  of  sympathy  that  reproof  was 
impossible.  "  I  am  prepared  for  any  sentence  ;  but  first,  let 
me  know,  let  these  lords  and  all  the  people  know,  is  this 
going  in  truth  of  your  own  free  will  ? " 

Montezuma  regarded  him  fixedly,  but  not  in  wrath. 

"  I  conjure  you,  uncle,  father,  king,  —  I  conjure  you,  by 
our  royal  blood,  by  our  country,  by  all  the  gods,  —  are  these 
strangers  guests  or  guards  1  Speak,  —  I  pray  you,  speak  but 

one  word." 

15 


338  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


The  poor,  stricken  monarch  heard,  and  was  penetrated  by 
the  tone  of  anguish  ;  yet  he  replied,  — 

"  My  brother's  son  insults  me  by  his  question.  I  am  still 
the  king,  —  free  to  go  and  come,  to  reward  and  punish." 

He  would  have  spoken  further,  and  kindly,  but  for  the  in 
terruption  of  Cortes,  who  cried  impatiently,  — 

"  Ho,  there  !     Why  this  delay  1     Forward  ! " 

And  thereupon  Avila  stepped  rudely  and  insolently  be 
tween  the  king  and  'tzin.  The  latter's  broad  breast  swelled, 
and  his  eyes  blazed  ;  he  seemed  like  a  tiger  about  to  leap. 

"  Beware  !  "  said  the  king,  and  the  warning  was  in  time. 
"  Beware  !  Not  here,  not  now  !  " 

The  'tzin  turned  to  him  with  a  quick,  anxious  look  of  in 
quiry  ;  a  revulsion  of  feeling  ensued  ;  he  arose,  and  said, 
with  bowed  head,  "  I  understand.  0  king,  if  we  help  not 
ourselves,  we  aie  lost.  '  Not  here,  not  now.'  I  catch  the 
permission."  Pointing  to  Avila,  he  added,  "  This  man's  life 
is  in  my  hands,  but  I  pass  it  by ;  thine,  O  uncle,  is  the  most 
precious.  "We  will  punish  these  insolents,  but  not  here ;  we 
will  give  you  rescue,  but  not  now.  Be  of  cheer." 

He  stepped  aside,  and  the  melancholy  cortege  passed  on, 
leaving  the  lords  and  people  and  the  empire,  as  represented 
by  them,  in  the  dust.  Before  the  teocallis,  under  the  eyes 
of  Cuitlahua,  within  hailing  distance  of  the  ten  thousand 
warriors,  the  doughty  cavaliers  bore  their  prize  unchallenged. 

And  through  the  gates  of  the  old  palace,  through  the  files 
of  Spaniards  in  order  of  battle  waiting,  they  also  carried 
what  they  thought  was  the  empire,  won  without  a  blow,  to 
be  parcelled  at  pleasure,  —  its  lands,  its  treasure,  its  cities, 
and  its  people. 


BOOK    SIX. 

CHAPTER  I. 

THE  LORD  HUALPA  FLEES  HIS  FORTUNE. 

r~T!HE  'tzin  Guatarao  sat  at  breakfast  alone  in  his  palace 
JL  near  Iztapalapan.  The  fare  was  simple,  —  a  pheasant, 
bread  of  maize,  oranges  and  bananas,  and  water  from  the 
spring  ;  and  the  repast  would  have  been  soon  despatched  but 
for  the  announcement,  by  a  slave  in  waiting,  of  the  lord 
Hualpa.  At  mention  of  the  name  the  'tzin's  countenance 
assumed  a  glad  expression. 

"  The  lord  Hualpa  !  The  gods  be  praised  !  Bid  him 
come." 

Directly  the  visitor  appeared  at  the  door,  and  paused 
there,  his  eyes  fixed  upon  the  floor,  his  body  bent,  like  one 
half  risen  from  a  salutation.  The  'tzin  went  to  him,  and 
taking  his  hand  said,  — 

"  Welcome,  comrade.  Come  and  account  for  yourself. 
I  know  not  yet  how  to  punish  you  ;  but  for  the  present, 
sit  there,  and  eat.  If  you  come  from  Tenochtitlan  this 
morning,  you  must  bring  with  you  the  appetite  which  is  one 
of  the  blessings  of  the  lake.  Sit,  and  I  will  order  your 
breakfast." 

"  No,  good  'tzin,  not  for  me,  I  pray  you.  I  am  from  the 
lake,  but  do  not  bring  any  blessing." 

The  'tzin  resumed  his  seat,  looking  searchingly  and  curi 
ously  at  his  guest,  and  pained  by  his  manner  and  appear 
ance.  His  face  was  careworn  ;  his  frame  bent  and  emaciated  ; 


540  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


his  look  constantly  downward ;  the  voice  feeble  and  of 
uncertain  tone  ;  in  short,  his  aspect  was  that  of  one  come 
up  from  a  battle  in  which  shame  arid  grief  had  striven  with 
youth  of  body  and  soul,  and,  fierce  as  the  struggle  had  been, 
the  end  was  not  yet.  He  was  the  counterpart  of  his  former 
self. 

"  You  have  been  sick,"  said  the  'tzin,  afterwhile. 

"  Very  sick,  in  spirit,"  replied  Hualpa,  without  raising  his 
eyes. 

The  'tziii  went  on.  "  After  your  desertion,  I  caused  in 
quiry  to  be  made  for  you  everywhere,  —  at  the  Chalcan's, 
and  at  your  palace.  No  one  could  give  me  any  tidings.  I 
sent  a  messenger  to  Tihuanco,  and  your  father  was  no  better 
informed.  Your  truancy  has  been  grievous  to  your  friends, 
no  less  than  to  yourself.  I  have  a  right  to  call  you  to 
account." 

"  So  you  have  ;  only  let  us  to  the  garden.  The  air  out 
side  is  sweet,  and  there  is  a  relief  in  freedom  from  walls." 

From  habit,  I  suppose,  they  proceeded  to  the  arena  set 
apart  for  military  exercise.  No  one  was  there.  The  'tziii 
seated  himself  on  a  bench,  making  room  for  Hualpa,  who 
still  declined  the  courtesy,  saying,  — 

"  I  will  give  an  account  of  myself  to  you,  brave  'tzin,  not 
only  because  I  should,  but  because  I  stand  in  need  of  your 
counsel.  Look  for  nothing  strange ;  mine  is  a  simple  story 
of  shame  and  failure.  You  know  its  origin  already.  You 
remember  the  last  night  I  spent  with  you  here.  I  do,  at 
least.  That  day  the  king  made  me  happier  than  I  shall  ever 
be  again.  When  I  met  you  at  the  landing,  the  kiss  of  my 
betrothed  was  sweet  upon  my  lips,  and  I  had  but  one  sor 
row  in  the  world,  —  that  you  were  an  exile,  and  could  not 
take  part,  as  you  so  wished  and  deserved,  in  the  battle  which 
niy  hand  was  to  precipitate  next  noon.  I  left  you,  and  by 
dawn  was  at  my  post  in  the  temple.  The  hours  were  long. 


THE   LORD  HUALPA  FLEES  HIS  FORTUNE.  341 

At  last  the  time  came.  All  was  .ready.  The  ten  thousand 
warriors  chosen  for  the  assault  were  in  their  quarters. 
The  lord  Cuitlahua  was  in  the  tower  of  Huitzil',  with  the 
teotuctli  and  his  pabas,  at  prayer.  We  awaited  only  the 
king's  word.  Finally,  Io'  appeared.  I  saw  him  coming.  I 
raised  the  stick,  my  blood  was  warm,  another  instant  and 
the  signal  would  have  been  given  —  "  Hualpa's  voice  trem 
bled,  and  he  stopped. 

"  Go  on,"  said  the  'tzin.     "  What  restrained  you  1 " 

"  I  remembered  the  words  of  the  king,  — '  Io'  will  come 
to  you  at  noon  with  my  commands,'  —  those  were  the 
words.  I  waited.  '  Strike  ! '  said  Io'.  '  The  command,  — 
quick  ! '  I  cried.  '  As  you  love  life,  strike  ! '  he  shouted. 
Something  unusual  had  taken  place ;  I  hesitated.  '  Does 
the  king  so  command]'  I  asked.  'Time  never  was  as 
precious  !  Give  me  the  stick ! '  he  replied.  But  the  duty 
was  mine.  '  With  your  own  hand  give  the  signal,'  —  such 
was  the  order.  I  resisted,  and  he  gave  over  the  effort, 
and,  throwing  himself  at  my  feet,  prayed  me  to  strike.  I 
refused  the  prayer,  also.  Suddenly  he  sprang  up,  and 
ran  out  to  the  verge  of  the  temple  overlooking  the  street. 
Lest  he  should  cast  himself  off,  I  followed.  He  turned  to 
me,  as  I  approached,  and  cried,  with  upraised  hands,  '  Too 
late,  too  late !  We  are  undone.  Look  where  they  carry 
him  off!'  'Whom?'  I  asked.  'The  king  —  my  father 
—  a  prisoner  ! '  Below,  past  the  coatapantli,  the  royal  palan 
quin  was  being  borne,  guarded  by  the  strangers.  The  blood 
stood  still  in  my  heart.  I  turned  to  the  prince ;  he  was 
gone.  A  sense  of  calamity  seized  me.  I  ran  to  the  tower, 
and  called  the  lord  Cuitlahua,  who  was  in  time  to  see  the 
procession.  I  shall  never  forget  the  awful  look  he  gave  me, 
or  his  words."  Hualpa  again  paused. 

"  What  were  they  1 "  asked  the  'tzin. 

"  '  My  lord  Hualpa,'  he  said,  '  had  y  )u  given  the  signal 


342  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


when  Io'  came  to  you  first,  I  could  have  interposed  my  com 
panies,  and  saved  him.  It  is  now  too  late ;  he  is  lost. 
May  the  gods  forgive  you  !  A  ruined  country  cannot.'  " 

"  Said  he  so  ? "  exclaimed  the  'tzin,  indignantly.  "  By  all 
the  gods,  he  was  wrong  !  " 

At  these  words,  Hualpa  for  the  first  time  dared  look  in 
to  the  'tzin's  face,  surprised,  glad,  yet  doubtful. 

"  How  ? "  he  asked.     "  Did  you  say  I  was  right  1 " 

"  Yes." 

Tears  glistened  in  the  Tihuancan's  eyes,  and  he  seized  and 
kissed  his  friend's  hand  with  transport. 

"I  begin  to  understand  you,"  the  'tzin  said,  still  more 
kindly.  "  You  thought  it  your  fault  that  the  king  was  a 
prisoner  ;  you  fled  for  shame." 

"  Yes,  —  for  shame." 

"  My  poor  friend  !  " 

"But  consider,"  said  Hualpa,  —  "consider  how  rapidly  I 
had  risen,  and  to  what  height.  Admitting  my  self-accusa 
tions,  when  before  did  man  fall  so  far  and  so  low  ?  What 
wonder  that  I  fled  1 

"  Well,  you  have  my  judgment.  Seat  yourself,  and  hear 
me  further." 

Hualpa  took  the  seat  this  time  ;  after  which  the  'tzin  con 
tinued.  "  The  seizure  was  made  in  the  palace.  The  king 
yielded  to  threats  of  death.  He  could  not  resist.  While 
the  strangers  were  bearing  him  past  the  teocallis,  and  you 
were  looking  at  them,  their  weapons  were  at  his  throat. 
Had  you  yielded  to  lo's  prayer,  and  given  the  signal,  and 
had  Cuitlahua  obeyed,  and  with  his  bands  attempted  a 
rescue,  your  benefactor  would  have  been  slain.  Do  not 
think  me  dealing  in  conjectures.  I  went  to  him  in  the 
street,  and  prayed  to  be  allowed  to  save  him ;  he  forbade  me. 
Therefore,  hold  riot  yourself  in  scorn ;  be  happy  ;  you  saved 
his  life  a  second  time." 


THE  LORD  HUALPA  FLEES  HIS  FORTUNE.  343 

Again  Hualpa  gave  way  to  his  gratitude. 

"  Nor  is  that  all,"  the  'tzin  continued.  "  In  my  opinion, 
the  last  rescue  was  nobler  than  the  first.  As  to  the  lord 
Cuitlahua,  be  at  rest.  He  was  not  himself  when  he  chid 
you  so  cruelly ;  he  now  thinks  as  I  do ;  he  exonerates 
you;  his  messengers  have  frequently  come,  asking  if  you 
had  returned.  So,  no  more  of  shame.  Give  me  now  what 
else  you  did." 

The  sudden  recall  to  the  past  appeared  to  throw  Hualpa 
back ;  his  head  sunk  upon  his  breast  again,  and  for  a  time 
he  was  silent ;  at  length  he  replied,  "  As  I  see  now,  good 
'tzin,  I  have  been  very  foolish.  Before  I  go  on,  assure  me 
that  you  will  listen  with  charity." 

"  With  charity  and  love." 

"  I  have  hardly  the  composure  to  tell  what  more  I 
did  ;  yet  the  story  will  come  to  you  in  some  form.  Judge 
me  mercifully,  and  let  the  subject  be  never  again  re 
called." 

"  You  have  spoken." 

"  Very  well.  I  have  told  you  the  words  of  the  lord  Cui 
tlahua  ;  they  burnt  me,  like  fire.  Thinking  myself  forever 
disgraced,  I  descended  from  the  azoteas  to  the  street,  and 
there  saw  the  people's  confusion,  and  heard  their  cries  and 
curses.  I  could  not  endure  myself.  I  fled  the  city,  like  a 
guilty  wretch.  Instinctively,  I  hurried  to  Tihuanco.  There 
I  avoided  every  habitation,  even  my  father's.  News  of  evil 
travels  fast.  The  old  merchant,  I  knew,  must  needs  hear  of 
the  king's  seizure  and  what  I  regarded  as  my  crime.  So 
I  cared  not  to  meet  his  eyes.  I  passed  the  days  in  the 
jungles  hunting,  but  the  charm  of  the  old  occupation  was 
gone  ;  somehow  my  arrows  flew  amiss,  and  my  limbs  refused 
a  long  pursuit.  How  I  subsisted,  I  scarcely  know.  At  last, 
however,  my  ideas  began  to  take  form,  and  I  was  able  to  in 
terrogate  myself.  Through  the  king's  bounty,  I  was  a  lord, 


344  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

and  owner  of  a  palace  ;  by  his  favor,  I  further  reflected, 
ISTenetzin  was  bound  to  me  in  solemn  betrothal.  What  would 
she  think  of  me  ?  What  right  had  I,  so  responsible  for  his 
great  misfortune,  to  retain  his  gifts  ?  I  could  release  her 
from  the  odious  engagement.  At  his  feet  I  could  lay  down 
the  title  and  property ;  and  then,  if  you  refused  me  as  a  sol 
dier  or  slave,  I  could  hide  myself  somewhere  ;  for  the  grief- 
struck  and  unhappy,  like  me,  earth  has  its  caverns  and  ocean 
its  islands.  And  so  once  more  I  hurried  to  Tenochtitlan. 
Yesterday  I  crossed  the  lake.  From  the  Chalcan  I  heard 
the  story  which  alone  was  needed  to  make  my  humiliation 
complete,  —  how  JS"enetzin,  false  to  me,  betrayed  the  great 
purpose  of  her  father,  betook  herself  to  the  stranger's  house, 
adopted  his  religion,  and  became  his  wife  or  —  spare  me  the 
word,  good  'tzin.  After  that,  I  lost  no  time,  but  went  to 
the  palace,  made  way  through  the  pale-faced  guards  at  the 
gate  and  doors,  each  of  whom  seemed  placed  there  to  at 
test  the  good  king's  condition  and  my  infamy.  Suitors 
and  lords  of  all  degrees  crowded  the  audience-chamber  when 
I  entered,  and  upon  every  face  was  the  same  look  of  sorrow 
and  dejection  which  I  had  noticed  upon  the  faces  of  the 
people  whom  I  passed  in  the  street.  All  who  turned  eyes 
upon  me  appeared  to  become  accusers,  and  say,  '  Traitor,  be 
hold  thy  victim  ! '  Imagine  the  pressure  upon  my  spirit.  I 
made  haste  to  get  away,  —  unseemly  haste.  What  my  salu 
tation  was  I  hardly  know.  I  only  remember  that,  in  some 
form  of  speech;  I  publicly  resigned  all  his  honorable  gifts.  I 
remember,  also,  that  when  I  took  what  I  thought  was  my  last 
look  at  him,  —  friend,  patron,  king,  father,  —  may  the  gods, 
who  have  forbidden  the  relation,  forgive  the  allusion !  — 
I  could  not  see  him  for  tears.  My  heart  is  in  my  throat 
now ;  then  it  nearly  choked  me.  And  so  ends  my  account. 
And  once  more,  true  friend,  I  come  to  you,  Hualpa,  the 
Tihuancan,  without  title,  palace,  or  privilege ;  without  dis- 


THE  LORD  HUALPA  FLEES  HIS  FORTUNE.  345 

tinction,  except  as  the  hero  and  victim  of  a  marvellous  for 
tune." 

The  'tzin  was  too  deeply  touched,  too  full  of  sympathy,  to 
reply  immediately.     He  arose,  and  paced  the  arena  awhile. 
Resuming  his  seat  again,  he  asked  simply,  "  And  what  said 
the  king  I " 
'     "  To  what  ?  " 

"  Your  resignation." 

"  He  refused  to  take  back  his  gifts.  They  could  not  revert, 
he  said,  except  for  crime." 

"  And  he  was  right.  You  should  have  known  him  better. 
A  king  cannot  revoke  a  gift  in  any  form." 

After  a  spell  of  silence,  the  'tzin  spoke  again. 

"  One  matter  remains.  You  are  not  guilty,  as  you  sup 
posed  ;  your  friends  have  not  lost  their  faith  in  you ;  such 
being  the  case,  it  were  strange  if  your  feelings  are  as  when 
you  came  here ;  and  as  purposes  too  often  follow  feelings,  I 
ask  about  the  future.  What  do  you  intend  ?  What  wish  1 " 

"  I  see  you  understand  me  well,  good  'tzin.  My  folly  has 
been  so  great  that  I  feel  myself  unworthy  to  be  my  own  mas 
ter.  I  ought  not  to  claim  a  purpose,  much  less  a  wish.  I 
came  to  your  door  seeking  to  be  taken  back  into  service ; 
that  was  all  the  purpose  I  had.  I  rely  upon  your  exceeding 
kindness." 

Hualpa  moved  as  if  to  kneel ;  but  the  'tzin  caught  him, 
and  said,  "  Keep  your  seat."  And  rising,  he  continued,  se 
verely,  "  Lord  Hualpa,  —  for  such  you  still  are,  —  all  men, 
even  the  best,  are  criminals ;  but  as  for  the  most  part  their 
crimes  are  against  themselves,  we  take  no  notice  of  them. 
In  that  sense  you  are  guilty,  and  in  such  degree  that  you 
deserve  forfeiture  of  all  the  king  refused  to  take  back.  Put 
pass  we  that,  —  pass  the  folly,  the  misconduct.  I  will  not 
take  you  into  service ;  you  have  your  old  place  of  friend  and 
comrade,  more  fitting  your  rank." 
15* 


346  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


Hualpa's  face  brightened,  and  he  answered,  — 

"  Command  me,  0  'tzin  !  With  you  I  can  be  brave  war 
rior,  good  citizen,  true  friend ;  without  you,  I  am  noth 
ing.  Whatever  the  world  thinks  of  me,  this  I  know,  —  I 
can  reinstate  myself  in  its  good  opinion  before  I  can  in 
my  own.  Show  me  the  way  back  to  self-respect;  restore 
me  that,  and  I  will  be  your  slave,  soldier,  comrade,  —  what 
you  will." 

"  It  is  well,"  said  Guatamozin,  smiling  at  his  earnestness. 
"  It  is  well.  I  can  show  you  the  way.  Listen.  The  war, 
about  which  we  have  so  often  talked,  thanks  to  the  gods !  is 
finally  at  hand.  The  public  opinion  has  done  its  work.  The 
whole  nation  would  throw  itself  upon  the  strangers  to-mor 
row,  but  for  the  king,  who  has  become  their  shield  ;  and  he 
must  be  rescued ;  otherwise,  we  must  educate  the  people  to 
see  in  him  an  enemy  to  be  removed.  We  cannot  spare  the 
time  for  that,  and  consequently  have  tried  rescue  in  many 
ways,  so  far  in  vain.  To-morrow  we  try  again.  The  plot 
is  arranged  and  cannot  fail,  except  by  the  king's  own  default. 
Reserving  explanation,  I  congratulate  you.  You  are  in 
time  ;  the  good  fortune  clings  to  you.  To-morrow  I  will  set 
your  feet  in  the  way  you  seek." 

Hualpa  gazed  at  him  doubtingly.  "  To-morrow  ! "  he  said. 
"Will  you  trust  me  so  soon,  and  in  a  matter  so  high? " 

"  Yes." 

"  Will  my  part  take  me  from  you  1 " 

"  No." 

"  Then  I  thank  you  for  the  opportunity.  On  the  teocallis, 
that  dreadful  morning,  I  lost  my  assurance  ;  whether  it  will 
ever  return  is  doubtful ;  but  with  you,  at  your  side,  I  dare 
walk  in  any  way." 

"  I  understand  you,"  the  'tzin  replied.  "  Go  now,  and  get 
ready.  Unless  the  king  fail  us,  we  will  have  combat  requir^ 
ing  all  our  strength.  To  the  bath  first,  then  to  breakfast, 


WHOM  THE  GODS  DESTROY  THEY  FIRST  MAKE  MAD.      347 

then  to  find  more  seemly  garments,  then  to  rest.     I  give 
you  to  midnight.     Go." 


CHAPTER  II. 

WHOM   THE   GODS    DESTROY    THEY    FIRST   MAKE   MAD. 

THE  morning  after  Hualpa's  return  Xoli,  the  Chalcan, 
as  was  his  wont,  passed  through  his  many  rooms,  mak 
ing  what  may  he  called  a  domestic  reconnoissance. 

"  What !  "  he  cried,  perplexed.  "  How  is  this  ?  The 
house  is  empty  !  Where  are  all  the  lords  1 " 

The  slaves  to  whom  he  spoke  shook  their  heads. 

"  Have  there  heen  none  for  breakfast  ? " 

Again  they  shook  their  heads. 

"  Nor  for  pulque  ?  " 

"  Not  one  this  morning,"  they  replied. 

"  Not  even  for  a  draught  of  pulque  !  Wonderful !  "  cried 
the  hroker,  bewildered  and  amazed.  Then  he  hurried  to 
his  steward,  soliloquizing  as  he  went,  "  Not  one  for  break 
fast  ;  not  even  a  draught  of  pulque  !  Holy  gods,  to  what  is 
the  generation  coming  1 " 

The  perplexity  of  the  good  man  was  not  without  cause. 
The  day  the  king  removed  to  the  palace  of  Axaya',  the  royal 
hospitality  went  with  him,  and  had  thenceforth  been  admin 
istered  there  ;  but  though  no  less  princely  and  profuse  than 
before,  under  the  new  regime  it  was  overshadowed  by  tha 
presence  of  the  strangers,  and  for  that  reason  became  dis 
tasteful  to  the  titled  personages  accustomed  to  its  enjoyment. 
Consequently,  owners  of  palaces  in  the  city  betook  them 
selves  to  their  own  boards  ;  others,  especially  non-residents, 
quartered  witfi  the  Chalcan ;  as  a  further  result,  his  house 


348  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


assumed  the  style  of  a  meson,  with  accommodations  equal  tj 
those  of  the  palace  ;  such,  at  least,  was  the  disloyal  whisper, 
and  I  am  sorry  to  say  Xoli  did  not  repudiate  the  impeach 
ment  as  became  a  lover  of  the  king.  And  such  eatingv 
drinking,  playing,  such  conspiring  and  plotting,  such  politi 
cal  discussion,  such  transactions  in  brokerage  went  on  dailj 
and  nightly  under  his  roof  as  were  never  before  known. 
Now  all  this  was  broken  oif.  The  silence  was  not  more 
frightful  than  unprofitable. 

"  Steward,  steward ! "  said  Xoli  to  that  functionary,  dis- 
tinguished  by  the  surpassing  whiteness  of  his  apron.  "  AVhai 
has  befallen  1  Where  are  the  patrons  this  morning  1 " 

"  Good  master,  the  most  your  slave  knows  is,  that  last 
night  a  paba  from  the  great  temple  passed  through  the  cham« 
bers,  after  which,  very  shortly,  every  guest  departed." 

"  A  paba,  a  paba ! "  And  Xoli  was  more  than  ever  per. 
plexed.  "  Heard  you  what  he  said  ? " 

"  Not  a  word." 

"  About  what  time  did  he  come  1 " 

"After  midnight." 

"  And  that  is  all  you  know  V ' 

The  steward  bowed,  and  Xoli  passed  distractedly  to  th<* 
front  door,  only  to  find  the  portico  as  deserted  as  the  cham 
bers.  Sight  of  the  people  beginning  to  collect  in  the  square, 
however,  brought  him  some  relief,  and  he  hailed  the  first  pass< 
ing  acquaintance. 

"  A  pleasant  morning  to  you,  neighbor." 

"  The  same  to  you." 

"  Have  you  any  news  1 " 

"  None,  except  I  hear  of  a  crowd  of  pabas  in  the  city, 
come,  as  rumor  says,  from  Tezcuco,  Cholula,  Iztapalapan, 
and  other  lake  towns." 

"  When  did  they  come  ] " 

"  In  the  night." 


WHOM  THE  GODS  DESTROY    THEY  FIRST  MAKE  MAD.      349 

"  Oho  !  There  's  something  afoot."  And  Xoli  wiped  the 
perspiration  from  his  forehead. 

"  So  there  is,"  the  neighbor  replied.  "  The  king  goes  to 
the  temple  to  worship  to-day." 

A  light  broke  in  upon  the  Chalcan.  "  True,  true  ;  I  had 
forgotten." 

"  Such  is  the  talk,"  the  citizen  continued.  "  Will  you  be 
there  1  Everybody  is  going." 

"  Certainly,"  answered  Xoli,  dryly.  "  If  I  do  not  go, 
everybody  will  not  be  there.  Look  for  me.  The  gods  keep 
you  !  " 

And  with  that,  he  re-entered  his  house,  satisfied,  but  not 
altogether  quieted  ;  wandering  restlessly  from  chamber  to 
chamber,  he  asked  himself  continually,  "  Why  so  many 
pabas  ]  And  why  do  they  come  in  the  night  1  And  what 
can  have  taken  the  lords  away  so  silently,  and  at  such  a 
time,  —  without  breakfast,  —  without  even  a  draught  of 
pulque  ?  " 

Invariably  these  interrogatories  were  followed  by  appeals 
to  the  great  ebony  jar  of  snuif ;  after  sneezing,  he  would 
answer  himself,  "  Pabas  for  worship,  lords  and  soldiers 
for  fighting  ;  but  pabas  and  soldiers  together  !  Something  is 
afoot.  I  will  stay  at  home,  and  patronize  myself.  And  yet 
- —  and  yet  —  they  might  have  told  me  something  about 

it!" 

#  *  #  *  * 

About  ten  o'clock  —  to  count  the  time  as  Christians  do  — , 
the  king  issued  from  the  old  palace,  going  in  state  to  tho 
teocallis,  attended  by  a  procession  of  courtiers,  warriors,  and 
pabas.  He  was  borne  in  an  open  palanquin,  shaded  by  the 
detached  canopy,  the  whole  presenting  a  spectacle  of  im 
perial  splendor. 

The  movement  was  slow  and  stately,  through  masses  of 
people  on  the  pavements,  under  the  gaze  of  other  thousands 


350  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


on  the  housetops  ;  but  neither  the  banners,  nor  the  music, 
nor  the  pomp,  nor  the  king  himself,  though  fully  exposed  to 
view,  amused  or  deceived  the  people ;  for  at  the  right  and 
left  of  the  carriage  walked  Lugo,  Alvarado,  Avila,  and 
Leon  ;  next,  Olmedo,  distinguishable  from  the  native  clergy 
by  his  shaven  crown,  and  the  cross  he  carried  aloft  on  the 
shaft  of  a  lance  ;  after  him,  concluding  the  procession,  one 
hur.-lrnd  and  fifty  Spaniards,  ready  for  battle.  Priesthood, 

—  king.  —  the  strangers!     Clearer,  closer,  more  inevitable, 
in  th:j  eyes  of  the  people,  arose  the  curse  of  Quetzal'. 

When  the  monarch  alighted  at  the  foot  of  the  first  stair 
way  of  the  temple,  the  multitude  far  and  near  knelt,  and  so 
remained  until  the  pabas,  delegated  for  the  purpose,  took 
him  in  their  arms  to  carry  him  to  the  azoteas.  Four  times 
in  the  passage  of  the  terraces  the  cortege  came  in  view  from 
the  side  toward  the  palace,  climbing,  as  it  were,  to  the  Sim; 

—  dimmer  the  holy  symbols,  fainter  the  solemn  music  ;  and 
each  time  the  people  knelt.     The  unfortunate  going  to  wor 
ship  was  still  the  great  king  ! 

A  detachment  of  Christians,  under  De  Morla,  preceded 
the  procession  as  an  advance-guard.  Greatly  were  they  sur 
prised  at  what  they  found  on  the  azoteas.  Behind  Tlalac,  at 
the  head  of  the  last  stairway,  were  a  score  or  more  of 
naked  boys,  swinging  smoking  censers ;  yet  farther  toward 
the  tower  or  sanctuary  of  Huitzil'  was  an  assemblage  of  dan 
cing  priestesses,  veiled,  rather  than  dressed,  in  gauzy  robes 
and  scarfs ;  from  the  steps  to  the  door  of  the  sanctuary  a 
passage-way  had  been  left ;  elsewhere  the  sacred  area  was 
occupied  by  pabas,  drawn  up  in  ranks  close  and  scrupu 
lously  ordered.  Like  their  pontiff,  each  of  them  wore  a 
gown  of  black  ;  but  while  his  head  was  bare,  theirs  were 
covered  by  hoods.  Thus  arranged,  —  silent,  motionless,  more 
like  phantoms  than  men,  —  they  both  shocked  and  dis 
quieted  the  Spaniards.  Indeed,  so  sensible  were  the  latter 


WHOM  THE  GODS  DESTROY    THEY  FIRST  MAKE  MAD.      351 

of  the  danger  of  their  position,  alone  and  unsupported  in 
the  face  of  an  array  so  dismal  and  solid,  that  many  of  them 
fell  to  counting  their  beads  and  muttering  Aves. 

A  savage  dissonance  greeted  the  king  when  he  was  set 
down  on  the  azoteas,  and  simultaneously  the  pabas  burst 
into  a  hymn,  and  from  the  urn  over  the  tower  a  denser 
column  of  smoke  arose,  slow  mounting,  but  erelong  visible 
throughout  the  valley.  Half  bending,  he  received  the  bless 
ing  of  Tlalac ;  then  the  censer-bearers  swept  around  him ; 
then,  too,  jangling  silver  bells  and  beating  calabashes,  the 
priestesses  began  to  dance ;  in  the  midst  of  the  salutation, 
the  arch-priest,  moving  backward,  conducted  him  slowly 
toward  the  entrance  of  the  sanctuary.  At  his  side  strode 
the  four  cavaliers.  The  escort  of  Christians  remained  out 
side  ;  yet  the  pabas  knew  the  meaning  of  their  presence, 
and  their  hymn  deepened  into  a  wail ;  the  great  king  had 
gone  before  his  god  —  a  prisoner  ! 

The  interior  of  the  sanctuary  was  in  ordinary  condi 
tion  ;  the  floor  and  the  walls  black  with  the  blood  of  vic 
tims  ;  the  air  foul  and  sickening,  despite  the  smoking  cen 
sers  and  perfuming  pans.  The  previous  visit  had  prepared 
the  cavaliers  for  these  horrors  ;  nevertheless,  a  cry  broke 
from  them  upon  their  entrance.  In  a  chafing-dish  before 
the  altar  four  human  hearts  were  slowly  burning  to  coals  ! 

"  Jesu  Christo  !  "  exclaimed  Alvarado.  "  Did  not  the 
pagans  promise  there  should  be  no  sacrifice  1  Shrieve  me 
never,  if  I  toss  not  the  contents  of  yon  dish  into  the  god's 
face  ! " 

"  Stay  !  "  cried  Olmedo,  seizing  his  arm.  "  Stir  not ! 
The  business  is  mine.  As  thou  lovest  God,  —  the  true  God, 
—  get  thee  to  thy  place  ! " 

The  father  spoke  firmly,  and  the  captain,  grinding  hia 
teeth  with  rage,  submitted. 

The  pedestal  of  the  idol  was  of  stone,  square  in  form,  and 


352  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


placed  in  the  centre  of  the  sanctuary.  Several  broad  steps, 
fronting  the  doorway,  —  door  there  was  not,  —  assisted  dev 
otees  up  to  a  platform,  upon  which  stood  a  table  curiously 
carved,  and  resting,  as  it  were,  under  the  eyes  of  the  god. 
The  chamber,  bare  of  furniture,  was  crowded  with  pabas, 
kneeling  and  hooded  and  ranked,  like  their  brethren  outside. 
The  cavaliers  took  post  by  the  entrance,  with  Olmedo  be 
tween  them  and  the  altar.  Two  priests,  standing  on  the 
lower  step,  seemed  waiting  to  assist  in  the  ceremonial, 
although,  at  the  time,  apparently  absorbed  in  prayer. 

Tlalac  led  the  monarch  by  the  hand  up  the  steps. 

"  0  king,"  he  said,  "  the  ears  of  the  god  are  open.  He 
will  hear  you.  And  as  to  these  companions  in  devotion," 
he  pointed  to  the  assistants  as  he  spoke,  "avoid  them  not  : 
they  are  here  to  pray  for  you  ;  if  need  be,  to  die  for  you.  If 
they  speak,  be  not  surprised,  but  heed  them  well ;  what 
they  say  Avill  concern  you,  and  all  you  best  love." 

Thereupon  the  arch-infidel  let  go  the  royal  hand,  and 
descended  the  steps,  moving  backward ;  upon  the  floor  he 
continued  his  movement.  Suddenly  he  stopped,  turned,  and 
was  face  to  face  with  Olmedo ;  all  the  passions  of  his  savage 
nature  blazed  in  his  countenance;  in  reply,  the  Christian 
priest  calmly  held  up  the  cross,  and  smiled,  and  was  content. 

Meantime  the  monarch  kissed  the  altar,  and,  folding  his 
hands  upon  his  breast,  was  beginning  to  be  abstracted  in 
prayer,  when  he  heard  himself  addressed. 

"  Look  not  this  way,  0  king,  nor  stir ;  but  listen." 

The  words,  audible  throughout  the  chamber,  proceeded 
from  the  nearest  devotee,  —  a  tall  man,  well  muffled  in  gown 
and  hood.  The  monarch  controlled  himself,  and  listened, 
while  the  speaker  continued  in  a  slow,  monotonous  manner, 
designed  to  leave  the  cavaliers,  whom  he  knew  to  be  observ 
ing  him,  in  doubt  whether  he  was  praying  or  intoning  some 
part  of  the  service  of  the  occasion,  — 


WHOM  THE  GODS  DESTROY   THEY  FIRST  MAKE  MAD.      353 

"  It  is  in  the  streets  and  in  the  palaces,  and  has  gone 
forth  into  the  provinces,  that  Montezuma  is  the  willing  guest 
of  the  strangers,  and  that  from  great  love  of  them  and  their 
society,  he  will  not  come  away,  although  his  Empire  is  dis 
solving,  and  the  religion  of  his  fathers  menaced  by  a  new 
one  ;  but  know,  0  king,  that  the  chiefs  and  caciques  refuse 
to  credit  the  evil  spoken  of  you,  and,  believing  you  a  prisoner, 
are  resolved  to  restore  you  to  freedom.  Know  further,  O 
king,  that  this  is  the  time  chosen  for  the  rescue.  The  way 
back  to  the  throne  is  clear;  you  have  only  to  go  hence.  What 
says  the  king  1  The  nation  awaits  his  answer." 

"  The  throne  is  inseparable  from  me,  —  is  where  I  am, 
under  my  feet  always,"  answered  the  monarch,  coldly. 

"And  there  may  it  remain  forever!"  said  the  devotee, 
with  fervor.  "  I  only  meant  to  pray  you  to  come  from 
amongst  the  strangers,  and  set  it  once  more  where  it  belongs, 
• —  amongst  the  loving  hearts  that  gave  it  to  you.  Misunder 
stand  me  not,  0  king.  Short  time  have  we  for  words.  The 
enemy  is  present.  I  offer  you  rescue  and  liberty." 

"  To  offer  me  liberty  is  to  deny  that  I  am  free.  Who  is  he 
that  proposes  to  give  me  what  is  mine  alone  to  give  1  I  am 
with  Huitzil'.  Who  comes  thus  between  me  and  the  god  ?  " 

From  the  pabas  in  the  chamber  there  was  a  loud  murmur ; 
but  as  the  king  and  devotee  retained  their  composure,  and, 
like  praying  men,  looked  steadily  at  the  face  of  Huitzil',  the 
cavaliers  remained  unsuspicious  observers  of  what  was  to 
them  merely  a  sinful  ceremony. 

"  I  am  the  humblest,  though  not  the  least  loving,  of  all 
your  subjects,"  the  devotee  answered. 

"  The  name  ] "  said  the  king.  "  You  ask  me  to  go  hence  : 
whither  and  with  whom  1 " 

"  Know  me  without  speaking  my  name,  O  king.  I  am 
your  brother's  son." 

Montezuma  was  visibly  affected.     Afterwhile  he  said,  — 

w 


354  THE  FAIR   GOD. 


"  Speak  further.  Consider  what  you  have  said  true,  • — 
that  I  am  a  prisoner,  that  the  strangers  present  are  my 
guards,  —  what  are  the  means  of  rescue  1  Speak,  that  I 
may  judge  of  them.  Conspiracy  is  abroad,  and  I  do  not 
choose  to  be  blindly  led  from  what  is  called  my  prison  to 
a  tomb." 

To  the  reasonable  demand  the  'tzin  calmly  replied,  "  That 
you  were  coining  to  worship  to-day,  and  the  conditions  upon 
which  you  had  permission  to  come,  I  learned  from  the 
teotuctli.  I  saw  the  opportunity,  and  proposed  to  attempt 
your  rescue.  In  Tlalac  the  gods  have  a  faithful  servant,  and 
you,  O  king,  a  time  lover.  When  you  were  received  upon 
the  azoteas,  you  did  not  fail  to  notice  the  pabas.  Never 
before  in  any  one  temple  have  there  been  so  many  assembled. 
They  are  the  instruments  of  the  rescue." 

"  The  instruments  !  "  exclaimed  the  king,  unable  to  repress 
his  scorn. 

The  'tzin  interposed  hastily.  "  Beware  !  Though  what 
we  say  is  not  understood  by  the  strangers,  their  faculties  are 
sharp,  and  very  little  may  awaken  their  suspicion  and  alarm  ; 
and  if  our  offer  be  rejected,  better  for  you,  0  king,  that 
they  go  hence  ignorant  of  their  danger  and  our  design. 
Yes,  if  your  conjecture  were  true,  if  we  did  indeed  propose 
to  face  the  teules  with  barehanded  pabas,  your  scorn  would 
be  justified  ;  but  know  that  the  concourse  on  the  azoteas 
is,  in  fact,  of  chiefs  and  caciques,  whose  gowns  do  but  conceal 
their  preparation  for  battle." 

A  pang  contracted  the  monarch's  face,  and  his  hands  closed 
harder  upon  his  breast ;  possibly  he  shuddered  at  the  neces 
sity  so  thrust  upon  him  of  deciding  between  Malinche 
whom  he  feared,  and  the  people  whom  he  so  loved. 

"  Yes,"  continued  the  'tzin,  "  here  are  the  chosen  of  the 
realm,  —  the  noblest  and  the  best,  —  each  with  his  life  in 
his  hand,  an  offering  to  you.  What  need  of  further  words  ] 


WHOM  THE  GODS  DESTROY   THEY  FIRST  MAKE  MAD.      355 

You  have  not  forgotten  the  habits  of  war ;  you  divine  the 
object  of  the  concourse  of  priests ;  you  understand  they  are 
formed  in  ranks,  that,  upon  a  signal,  they  may  throw  them 
selves  as  one  man  upon  the  strangers.  Here  in  the  sanctuary 
are  fifty  more  with  maquahuitls ;  behind  them  a  door  has 
been  constructed  to  pass  you  quickly  to  the  azoteas;  they 
will  help  me  keep  the  door,  and  stay  pursuit,  while  you  de 
scend  to  the  street.  And  now,  0  king,  said  I  not  rightly  1 
What  have  you  to  do  more  than  go  hence  ?  Dread  not  for 
us.  In  the  presence  of  Huitzil',  and  in  defence  of  his  altar, 
we  will  fight.  If  we  fall  in  such  glorious  combat,  he  will 
waft  our  souls  straightway  to  the  Sun." 

"  My  son,"  the  king  answered,  after  a  pause,  "  if  I  were  a 
prisoner,  I  would  say  you  and  the  lords  have  done  well ; 
but,  being  free  and  pursuing  my  own  policy,  I  reject  the 
rescue.  Go  your  ways  in  peace  ;  leave  me  to  my  prayers.  In 
a  few  days  the  strangers  will  depart ;  then,  if  not  sooner,  I 
will  come  back  as  you  wish,  and  bring  the  old  time  with  me, 
and  make  all  the  land  happy." 

The  monarch  ceased.  He  imagined  the  question  answered 
and  passed  ;  but  a  murmur,  almost  a  groan,  recalled  him  from 
the  effort  to  abstract  himself.  And  then  the  teotuctli,  exer 
cising  his  privilege,  went  to  him,  and,  laying  a  hand  upon  his 
arm,  and  pointing  up  to  the  god,  said,  — 

"  Hearken,  0  king  !  The  strangers  have  already  asked 
you  to  allow  them  to  set  up  an  altar  here  in  the  house  of 
Huitzil',  that  they  may  worship  their  god  after  their  manner. 
The  request  was  sacrilege  ;  listening  to  it,  a  sin ;  to  grant  it 
would  make  you  accursed  forever.  Save  yourself  and  the  god, 
by  going  hence  as  the  lords  have  besought.  Be  wise  in 
time." 

"  I  have  decided,"  said  the  poor  king,  in  a  trembling  voice, 
—  "I  have  decided." 

Tlalac  looked  to  the  'tzin  despairingly.     The  appeal  to  the 


356  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


monarch's  veneration  for  the  god  of  his  fathers  had  failed ; 
what  else  remained  ?  And  the  'tzin  for  the  first  time  looked 
to  the  king,  saying  sorrowfully,  — 

"  Anahuac  is  the  common  mother,  as  Huitzil'  is  the  father. 
The  foot  of  the  stranger  is  heavy  on  her  breast,  and  she  cries 
aloud,  '  Where  is  Montezuma  1  Where  is  the  Lord  of  the 
Earth  1  Where  is  the  Child  of  the  Sun  ? '  " 

And  silence  hung  heavy  in  the  sanctuary,  and  the  waiting 
was  painful.  Again  the  'tzin's  voice,  — 

"  A  bride  sits  in  the  house  waiting.  Love  puts  its  songs 
in  her  mouth,  and  kindles  her  smiles  with  the  dazzle  of  stars. 
But  the  bridegroom  lingers,  and  the  evening  and  the  morn 
ing  bring  him  not.  Ah,  what  is  she,  though  ever  so  beauti 
ful  and  sweet-singing,  when  he  comes  not,  and  may  never 
come  1  0  king,  you  are  the  lingering  lord,  and  Aiiahuac 
the  waiting  bride  ;  as  you  love  her,  come." 

The  fated  king  covered  his  face  with  his  hands,  as  if,  by 
shutting  out  the  light,  to  find  relief  from  pangs  too  acute  for 
endurance.  Minutes  passed,  —  minutes  of  torture  to  him, 
and  of  breathless  expectancy  to  all  present,  except  the  cava 
liers,  who,  unconscious  of  peril,  watched  the  scene  with  in 
difference,  or  rather  the  scornful  curiosity  natural  to  men 
professing  a  purer  and  diviner  faith.  At  last  his  hand  dropped, 
and  he  said  with  dignity,  — 

"  Let  this  end  now,  —  so  I  command.  My  explanation 
must  be  accepted.  I  cannot  understand  why,  if  you  love  me 
as  you  say,  you  should  receive  my  word  with  so  little  credit ; 
and  if  you  can  devote  yourselves  so  entirely  to  me,  why 
can  you  not  believe  me  capable  of  equal  devotion  to  my 
self?  Hear  me  once  more.  I  do  not  love  the  strangers.  I 
hope  yet  to  see  them  sacrificed  to  Huitzil'.  They  promise  in 
a  few  days  to  leave  the  country,  and  I  stay  with  them  to 
hasten  their  departure,  and,  in  the  mean  time,  shield  you,  the 
nation,  the  temples,  and  the  gods,  from  their  power,  which 


THE  PUBLIC  OPINION  MAKES  WAY.  357 

is  past  finding  out.  Therefore,  let  no  blow  be  struck  at  them, 
here  or  elsewhere,  without  my  order.  I  am  yet  the  king.  Let 
mo  have  peace.  Peace  be  with  you  !  I  have  spoken." 

The  'tzin  looked  once  to  heaven,  as  if  uttering  a  last  ap 
peal,  or  calling  it  to  witness  a  vow,  then,  he  fell  upon  his 
knees ;  he,  too,  had  despaired.  And  as  if  the  feeling 
were  contagious,  the  teotuctli  knelt,  and  in  the  sanctuary 
there  was  stillness  consistent  with  worship,  save  when  some 
overburdened  breast  relieved  itself  by  a  sigh,  a  murmur,  or 
a  groan. 

And  history  tells  how  Montezuma  remained  a  little  while 
at  the  altar,  and  went  peacefully  back  to  his  residence  with 
the  strangers. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE    PUBLIC   OPINION    MAKES  WAY. 

IN"  the  tianguez,  one  market-day,  there  was  an  immense 
crowd,  yet  trade  was  dull ;  indeed,  comparatively  noth 
ing  in  that  way  was  being  done,  although  the  display  of  com 
modities  was  rich  and  tempting. 

"  Holy  gods,  what  is  to  become  of  us?"  cried  a  Cholulan 
merchant. 

"  You !  You  are  rich.  Dulness  of  the  market  cannot 
hurt  you.  But  I,  —  I  am  going  to  ruin." 

The  second  speaker  was  a  slave-dealer.  Only  the  day  be 
fore,  he  had.  at  great  cost,  driven  into  the  city  a  large  train 
of  his  "  stock  "  from  the  wilderness  beyond  the  Great  River. 

"  Tell  me,  my  friend,"  said  a  third  party,  addressing  the 
slave -dealer,  though  in  hearing  of  the  whole  company, 
''  heard  you  ever  of  a  slave  owning  a  slave  ? " 

"  Not  I." 


358  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Heard  you  ever  of  a  man  going  into  the  market  to  buy 
a  slave,  when  he  was  looking  to  become  one  himself  ] " 

"  Never." 

"  You  have  it  then,  —  the  reason  nobody  has  been  to  your 
exhibition." 

The  bystanders  appeared  to  assent  to  the  proposition,  which 
all  understood  but  the  dealer  in  men,  who  begged  an  explana 
tion. 

"  Yes,  yes.  You  have  just  come  home.  I  had  forgot 
ten.  A  bad  time  to  be  abroad.  But  listen,  friend."  The 
speaker  quietly  took  his  pipe  from  his  mouth,  and  knocked 
the  ashes  out  of  the  bowl.  "  We  belong  to  Malinche  ;  you 
know  who  he  is." 

"  I  am  not  so  certain,"  the  dealer  replied,  gravely.  "  The 
most  I  can  say  is,  I  have  heard  of  him." 

"  O,  he  is  a  god  —  " 

"  With  all  a  man's  wants  and  appetites,"  interposed  one. 

"  Yes,  I  was  about  to  say  that.  For  instance,  day  before 
yesterday  he  sent  down  the  king's  order  for  three  thousand 
escaupiles.  What  need  — 

"  They  were  for  his  Tlascalans." 

'  "  O,  possibly.    For  whom  were  the  cargoes  of  cotton  cloth 
delivered  yesterday  1 " 

"  His  women,"  answered  the  other,  quickly. 

"  And  the  two  thousand  sandals  ? " 

"  For  his  soldiers  1 " 

"  And  the  gold  of  which  the  market  was  cleaned  last 
week  1  And  the  gold  now  being  hunted  in  Tustepec  and 
Chinantla  1  And  the  tribute  being  levied  so  harshly  in  all 
the  provinces,  —  for  whom  are  they  1 " 

"  For  Malinche  himself." 

"  Yes,  the  god  Malinche.  Slave  of  a  slave  !  My  friend," 
said  the  chief  speaker  to  the  slave-dealer,  "  there  is  no  such 
relation  known  to  the  law,  and  for  that  reason  we  cannot 


THE  PUBLIC  OPINION   MAKES  WAY.  359 

buy  of  you.     Better  go  back  with  all  you  have,  and  let  the 
wilderness  have  its  own  again." 

"  But  the  goods  of  which  you  spoke ;  certainly  they  were 
paid  for,"  said  the  dealer,  turning  pale. 

"  No.  There  is  nothing  left  of  the  royal  revenue.  Even 
the  treasure  which  the  last  king  amassed,  and  walled  up  in 
the  old  palace,  has  been  given  to  Malinche.  The  empire  is 
like  a  man  in  one  respect,  at  least,  —  when  beggared,  it  can^ 
not  pay." 

"  And  the  king  1 " 

"  He  is  Malinche's,  too." 

"  Yes,"  added  the  bystander ;  "  for  nowadays  we  never 
see  his  signet,  except  in  the  hands  of  one  of  the  strangers." 

The  dealer  in  men  drew  a  long  breath,  something  as  near 
a  sigh  as  could  come  from  one  of  his  habits,  and  said,  "I  re 
member  Mualox  and  his  prophecy  ;  and,  hearing  these  things, 
I  know  not  what  to  think." 

"  We  have  yet  one  hope,"  said  the  chief  spokesman,  as  if 
desirous  of  concluding  the  conversation. 

"  And  that  ? " 

"  Is  the  'tzin  Guatamo." 

#  *  *  *  * 

11  What  luck,  Pepite  ?  " 

"  Bad,  very  bad." 

The  questioner  was  the  wife  of  the  man  questioned,  who 
had  just  returned  from  the  market.  Throwing  aside  his  empty 
baskets,  he  sat  down  in  the  shade  of  a  bridge  spanning  one 
of  the  canals,  and,  locking  his  hands  across  his  bare  knees, 
looked  gloomily  in  the  water.  His  canoe,  with  others,  was 
close  at  hand. 

The  wife,  without  seeming  to  notice  his  dejection,  busied 
herself  setting  out  their  dinner,  which  was  humble  as  them 
selves,  being  of  boiled  maize,  tuna  figs,  and  tecuitlatl,  or 
cheese  of  the  lake.  When  the  man  began  to  eat,  he  began 


360  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


to  talk,  —  a  peculiarity  in  which  he  was  not  altogether  sin 
gular. 

"  Bad  .luck,  very  bad,"  he  repeated.  "  I  took  my  baskets 
to  the  old  stand.  The  flowers  were  fresh  and  sweet,  gathered, 
you  know,  only  last  night.  The  market  Avas  full  of  people, 
many  of  whom  I  knew  to  be  rich  enough  to  buy  at  two 
prices  ;  they  came,  and  looked,  and  said,  '  They  are  very 
nice,  Pepite,  very  nice,'  but  did  not  offer  to  buy.  By  and 
by  the  sun  went  up,  and  stood  overhead,  and  still  no  pur 
chaser,  not  even  an  offer.  It  was  very  discouraging,  I  tell 
you  ;  and  it  would  have  been  much  more  so,  if  T  had  not 
pretty  soon  noticed  that  the  market-people  around  me,  fruit 
erers  and  florists,  were  doing  no  better  than  I.  Then  I 
walked  about  to  see  my  friends  ;  and  in  the  porticos  and 
booths  as  elsewhere  in  the  square,  —  no  trade ;  plenty 
of  people,  but  no  trade.  The  jewellers  had  covered  their 
fronts  with  flowers,  —  I  never  saw  richer,  —  you  should  have 
been  there  !  —  and  crowds  stood  about  breathing  the  sweet 
perfume ;  but  as  to  purchasing,  they  did  nothing  of  the  sort. 
In  fact,  may  the  mitlou  *  of  our  little  house  fly  away  to 
night,  if,  in  the  whole  day,  I  saw  an  instance  of  trade,  or  so 
much  as  a  cocoa-bean  pass  from  one  hand  to  another  !  " 

"  It  has  been  so  many  days  now,  only  not  quite  so  bad, 
Pepite,"  the  wife  said,  struggling  to  talk  cheerfully.  "  What 
did  they  say  was  the  cause  ?  Did  any  one  speak  of  that  1 " 

"  0  yes,  everybody.  Nothing  else  was  talked.  '  What 
is  the  use  of  working  1  Why  buy  or  sell  ?  We  have  no 
longer  a  king  or  country.  We  are  all  slaves  now.  We 
belong  to  Malinche.  Afterwhile,  because  we  are  poor, 
he  will  take  us  off  to  some  of  his  farms,  like  that  one  he 
has  down  in  Oajaca,  and  set  us  to  working,  and  keep  the 
fruits,  while  he  gives  us  the  pains.  No,  we  do  •  not  want 

*  Ho'tsehold  god  of  the  lowest  grade. 


THE  PUBLIC  OPINION   MAKES  WAY.  361 

anything ;  the  less  we  have,  the  lighter  will  be  our  going 
down.'     That  is  the  way  the  talk  went  all  day." 

For  the  first  time  the  woman  threw  off  her  pretence 
of  cheerfulness,  and  was  still,  absorbed  in  listening  and 
thinking. 

"  Belong  to  Malinche  !  We  1  And  our  little  ones  at 
home  1  Not  while  the  gods  live ! "  she  said,  confi 
dently. 

"  Why  not  1     You  forget.     Malinche  is  himself  a  god." 

A  doubt  shook  the  strong  faith  of  the  wife ;  and  soon, 
gloomy  and  hopeless  as  Pepite,  she  sat  down  by  him,  and 
partook  of  the  humble  fare. 

***** 

"  The  nation  is  dying.  Let  us  elect  another  king,"  said 
an  old  cacique  to  a  crowd  of  nobles,  of  whom  he  was  tho 
centre,  in  the  pulque  chamber  of  the  Chalcan.  Bold  words, 
which,  half  a  year  before,  would  have  been  punished  on  the 
spot ;  now,  they  were  heard  in  silence,  if  not  with  approba 
tion.  "  A  king  has  no  right  to  survive  his  glory,"  the 
veteran  continued ;  "  and  how  may  one  describe  his  shame 
and  guilt,  when,  from  fear  of  death,  he  suffers  an  enemy  to 
use  him,  and  turn  his  power  against  his  people  ! " 

He  stopped,  and  for  a  time  the  hush  was  threatening; 
then  there  was  clapping  of  hands,  and  voices  cried  out,  — 
"  Good,  good  !  " 

"  May  the  gods  forgive  me,  and  witness  that  the  speech 
was  from  love  of  country,  not  hatred  of  Montezuma,"  said 
the  cacique,  deferentially. 

"  Whom  would  you  have  in  his  place  1  Name  him," 
shouted  an  auditor. 

"  Montezuma,  —  if  ho  will  come  back  to  us." 

"  He  will  not ;  he  has  already  refused.  Another,  —  give 
us  another ! " 

"  Be  it  so  !  "  said  the  veteran,  with,  decision.     "  My  life 
16 


362  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

is  forfeit  for  what  I  have  said.  The  cell  that  holds  the  king 
Cacama  and  the  good  lord  Cuitlahua  yawns  for  me  also.  I 
will  speak."  Quaffing  a  bowl  of  pulque,  he  added,  "  Of  all 
Anahuac,  0  my  brothers,  who,  with  the  fewest  years,  is 
wisest  of  head  and  bravest  of  heart,  and  therefore  fittest  to 
be  king  in  time  like  this  1 " 

The  question  was  of  the  kind  that  addresses  itself  pecu 
liarly  to  individual  preferences,  —  the  kind  which  has  af 
flicted  the  world  with  its  saddest  and  greatest  wars  ;  yet, 
strange  to  say,  the  company,  as  with  one  voice,  and  in 
stantly,  answered,  — 

"  The  'tzin,  the  'tzin.     Guatamo,  the  'tzin  ! " 
***** 

In  the  evening  time  three  pabas  clomb  the  stairs  by  which 
the  top  of  the  turret  of  Huitzil'  on  the  teocallis  was  reached 
from  the  azoleas.  Arrived  at  the  top,  they  found  there  the 
night-watcher,  who  recognized  the  teotuctli,  and  knelt  to 
him. 

"Arise,  and  get  you  down  now,"  the  arch- priest  said; 
"  we  would  be  alone  awhile." 

On  a  pedestal  of  stone,  or  rather  of  many  stones,  rested 
the  brazier,  or  urn,  that  held  the  sacred  fire.  In  it  crackled 
the  consuming  fagots,  while  over  it,  with  unsteady  bril 
liancy,  leaped  the  flames  which,  for  so  many  leagues  away, 
were  as  a  beacon  in  the  valley.  The  three  stopped  in  the 
shadow  of  the  urn,  and  might  have  studied  the  city,  or 
those  subjects  greater  and  more  fascinating,  —  mysteries 
now,  to-night,  forever,  —  Space,  and  its  children,  the  Stars ; 
but  it  was  not  to  indulge  a  common  passion  or  uncertain 
speculations  that  Tlalac  had  brought  from  their  temples 
and  altars  his  companions,  the  high-priests  of  Cholula  and 
Tezcuco.  And  there  for  a  long  time  they  remained,  the 
grave  and  holy  servants  of  the  gods  of  the  New  "World, 
talking  earnestly,  on  what  subject  and  with  what  conclusion 
we  may  gather. 


THE  PUBLIC  OPINION   MAKES  WAY.  363 

"  He  is  of  us  no  longer,"  said  Tlalac,  impressively.  "  He 
has  abandoned  his  people ;  to  a  stranger  lie  has  surrendered 
himself,  his  throne  and  power ;  he  spends  his  days  learning, 
from  a  new  priesthood,  a  new  creed,  and  the  things  that  per 
tain  to  a  god  of  whom  everything  is  unknown  to  us,  ex 
cept  that  he  is  the  enemy  of  our  gods.  I  bore  his  desertion 
patiently,  as  we  always  bear  with  those  we  love.  By  per 
mission,  as  you  heard,  he  came  one  day  to  worship  Huitzil' ; 
the  permission  was  on  condition  that  there  should  be  no 
sacrifices.  Worship  without  sacrifice,  my  brethren !  Can 
such  thing  be  1  When  he  came,  he  was  offered  rescue  ;  the 
preparations  were  detailed  to  him  ;  he  knew  they  could  not 
fail ;  the  nobles  begged  him  to  accept  the  offer ;  I  warned 
him  against  refusal;  yet,  of  choice,  he  went  back  t<\  Ma- 
linche.  Then  patience  almost  forsook  me.  Next,  as  you 
also  know,  came  the  unpardonable  sin.  In  the  chamber  be 
low —  the  chamber  sanctified  by  the  presence  of  the  mighty 
Huitzil'  —  I  will  give  you  to  see,  if  you  wish,  a  profanation 
the  like  of  which  came  never  to  the  most  wicked  dream  of 
the  most  wicked  Aztec,  —  an  altar  to  the  new  and  unknown 
God.  And  to-morrow,  if  you  have  the  curiosity,  I  will  give 
you  to  see  the  further  sight,  —  a  service,  mixed  of  singing 
and  prayer,  by  priests  of  the  strange  God,  at  the  same  time, 
and  side  by  side  with  the  worship  of  our  gods,  —  all  with 
the  assent  —  nay,  by  order  —  of  Montezuma.  Witness  these 
crimes  once,  and  your  patience  will  go  quickly,  whereas 
mine  went  slowly;  but  it  is  gone,  and  in  its  stead  lives 
only  the  purpose  to  do  what  the  gods  command." 

"  Let  us  obey  the  gods  !  "  said  the  reverend  high-priest  of 
Cholula. 

"  Let  us  obey  the  gods  ! "  echoed  his  holy  brother  of 
Tezcuco. 

"  Hear  me,  then,"  said  Tlalac,  with  increased  fervor.  "  I 
will  give  their  command.  '  Raise  up  a  new  king,  and  save 


364  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


yourselves,  by  saving  our  worship  in  the  land  ! '  so  the  gods 
say.  And  I  am  ready." 

"  But  the  law,"  said  the  Tezcucan. 

"  By  the  law,"  answered  Tlalac,  "  there  can  be  kings  only 
in  the  order  of  election." 

"And  so?" 

"  Montezuma  —  must  —  DIE  ! " 

Tlalac  said  these  terrible  words  slowly,  but  firmly. 

"  And  who  will  be  the  instrument  ? "  they  asked. 

"  Let  us  trust  the  gods,"  he  answered.  "  For  love  of 
them  men  go  down  to  death  every  day ;  and  of  the  many 
lovers,  doubt  not  some  one  will  be  found  to  do  their  bid- 
ding." 

And  so  it  was  agreed. 

***** 

And  so,  slowly  but  surely,  the  Public  Opinion  made  its 
way,  permeating  all  classes,  —  laborers,  merchants,  warriors, 
and  priests. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE   'TZIN'S    FAREWELL    TO    QUETZAL*. 

IF  I  were  writing  history,  it  would  delight  me  to  linger 
over  the  details  of  Cortes'  management  after  the  arrest 
of  Montezuma ;  for  in  them  were  blent,  fairly  as  ever  before 
seen,  the  grand  diversities  of  war,  politics,  and  governmental 
administration.  Anticipating  interference  from  the  head 
quarters  in  Cuba,  he  exercised  all  his  industry  and  craft  to 
recommend  himself  directly  to  his  Majesty,  the  Emperor 
Charles.  The  interference  at  last  came  in  the  form  of  a 
grand  expedition  under  Paniilo  de  Xarvaez ;  but  in  the  in 
terval,  —  a  period  of  little  more  than  five  months,  —  he  had 


THE   'TZIN'S  FAREWELL  TO   QUETZAL'.  365 

practically  reduced  the  new  discovery  to  possession,  as  at 
tested  by  numerous  acts  of  sovereignty,  —  such,  for  instance, 
as  the  coast  of  the  gulf  surveyed ;  colonies  established ; 
plantations  opened  and  worked  with  profit ;  tribute  levied ; 
high  officials  arrested,  disseized,  and  executed ;  the  collection 
and  division  of  a  treasure  greater  than  ever  before  seen  by 
Christians  in  the  New  World ;  communication  with  the  cap 
ital  secured  by  armed  brigantines  on  the  lakes ;  the  cross  set 
up  and  maintained  in  the  teocallis  ;  and  last,  and,  by  custom 
of  the  civilized  world,  most  absolute,  Montezuma  brought  to 
acknowledge  vassalage  and  swear  allegiance  to  the  Emperor ; 
and  withal,  so  perfect  was  the  administration  of  affairs,  that 
a  Spaniard,  though  alone,  was  as  safe  in  the  defiles  between 
Vera  Cruz  and  Tenochtitlan  as  he  would  have  been  in  tho 
caminos  reales  of  old  Spain,  as  free  in  the  great  tianguez  as 
on  the  quay  of  Cadiz. 

Narvaez's  expedition  landed  in  May,  six  months  after 
Cortes  entered  Tenochtitlan ;  and  to  that  time  I  now  beg  to 
advance  my  reader. 

Cortes  himself  is  down  in  Cempoalla ;  having  defeated 
Narvaez,  he  is  lingering  to  gather  the  fruits  of  his  extraor 
dinary  Tictory.  In  the  capital  Alvarado  is  commanding, 
supported  by  the  Tlascalans,  and  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  Christians.  Under  his  administration,  affairs  have 
gone  rapidly  from  bad  to  worse ;  and  in  selecting  him  for 
a  trust  so  delicate  and  important,  Cortes  has  made  his  first 

serious  mistake. 

*  #  #  #  # 

At  an  early  hour  in  the  evening  Mualox  came  out  of  the 
sanctuary  of  his  Cu,  bearing  an  armful  of  the  flowers  which 
had  been  used  in  the  decoration  of  the  altar.  The  good 
man's  hair  and  beard  were  whiter  than  when  last  I  noticed 
him ;  he  was  also  feebler,  and  more  stooped ;  so  the  time 
is  not  far  distant  when  Quetzal'  will  lose  his  last  and 


366  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


most  faithful  servant.  As  he  was  ahout  to  ascend  the  stair 
way  of  the  tower,  his  name  was  called,  and,  stopping,  he  was 
overtaken  by  two  men. 

"  Guatamozin !  "  he  exclaimed,  in  surprise. 

"  Be  not  alarmed,  father,  but  put  down  your  burden,  and 
rest  awhile.  My  friend  here,  the  lord  Hualpa,  has  brought 
me  news,  which  calls  me  away.  Rest,  therefore,  and  give 
me  time  for  thanks  and  explanation." 

"  What  folly  is  this  1 "  asked  Mualox,  hastily,  and  with 
out  noticing  Huulpa's  salutation.  "  Go  back  to  the  cell. 
The  hunters  are  abroad  and  vigilant  as  ever.  I  will  cast 
these  faded  offerings  into  the  fire,  and  come  to  you." 

The  'tzin  was  in  the  guise  of  a  paba.  To  quiet  th& 
good  man's  alarm,  he  drew  closer  the  hood  that  covered 
his  head,  remarking,  "  The  hunters  will  not  come.  Giva 
Hualpa  the  offerings  ;  he  will  carry  them  for  you." 

Hualpa  took  them,  and  left ;  then  Mualox  said,  "  I  am 
ready  to  hear.  Speak." 

"  Good  father,"  the  'tzin  began,  "  not  long  since,  in  the 
sanctuary  there,  you  told  me  —  I  well  remember  the  words  — 
that  the  existence  of  my  country  depended  upon  my  action ; 
by  which  I  understood  you  to  prefigure  for  me  an  honorable, 
if  not  fortunate,  destiny.  I  believe  you  had  -faith  in  what 
you  said  ;  for  on  many  occasions  since  you  have  exerted 
yourself  in  my  behalf.  That  I  am  not  now  a  prisoner  in  the 
old  palace  with  Cacama  and  the  lord  Cuitlahua  is  due  to  you  ; 
indeed,  if  it  be  true,  as  I  was  told,  that  the  king  gave  me 
to  Malinche  to  be  dealt  with  as  he  chose,  I  owe  you  my  life. 
These  are  the  greatest  debts  a  man  can  be  bound  for ;  I  ac 
knowledge  them,  and,  if  the  destiny  should  be  fortunate  as 
we  hope,  will  pay  them  richly  ;  but  now  all  I  can  give  you 
is  my  thanks,  and  what  I  know  you  will  better  regard,  —  my 
solemn  promise  to  protect  this  sacred  property  of  the  holy 
Quetzal'.  Take  the  thanks  and  the  promise,  and  let  me  havo 
your  blessing.  I  wish  now  to  go." 


THE   'TZIN'S   FAREWELL  TO  QUETZAL'.  367 

"  Whither  1 "  asked  Mualox. 

"  To  the  people.  They  have  called  me ;  the  lord  Hualpa 
brings  me  their  message." 

"  No,  you  will  not  go,"  said  the  paba,  reproachfully. 
"  Your  resolution  is  only  an  impulse ;  impatience  is  not  a 
purpose ;  and  —  and  here  are  peace,  and  safety,  and  a  holy 
presence." 

"  But  honor,  father,  —  " 

"  That  will  come  by  waiting." 

"  Alas  !  "  said  the  'tzin,  bitterly,  "  I  have  waited  too  long 
already.  I  have  most  dismal  news.  When  Malinche 
marched  to  Cempoalla,  he  left  in  command  here  the  red- 
haired  chief  whom  we  call  Tonatiah.  This,  you  know,  is 
the  day  of  the  incensing  of  Huitzil'  — 

"  I  know,  my  son,  —  an  awful  day  !  The  day  of  cruel 
sacrifice,  itself  a  defiance  of  Quetzal'." 

"  What !  "  said  Guatamozin,  in  angry  surprise.  "  Are  you 
not  an  Aztec  1 " 

"  Yes,  an  Aztec,  and  a  lover  of  his  god,  the  true  god, 
whose  return  he  knows  to  be  near,  and,"  —  to  gather  energy 
of  expression,  he  paused,  then  raised  his  hands  as  if  flinging 
the  words  to  a  listener  overhead,  —  "  and  whom  he  would 
welcome,  though  the  land  be  swimming  in  the  blood  of  un 
believers." 

The  violence  and  incoherency  astonished  the  'tzin,  and  as 
he  looked  at  the  paba  fixedly,  he  was  sensible  for  the  first 
time  of  a  fear  that  the  good  man's  mind  was  affected.  And 
he  considered  his  age  and  habits,  his  days  and  years  spent  in 
a  great,  cavernous  house,  without  amusement,  without  com 
panionship,  without  varied  occupation;  for  the  thinker,  it 
must  be  remembered,  knew  nothing  of  Tecetl  or  the  world 
she  made  so  delightful.  Moreover,  was  not  mania  the  effect 
of  long  brooding  over  wrongs,  actual  or  imaginary  1  Or,  to 
put  the,  thought  in  another  form,  how  natural  that  the  soli- 


368  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


tary  watcher  of  decay,  where  of  all  places  decay  is  most  af 
fecting,  midst  antique  and  templed  splendor,  should  make 
the  cause  of  Quetzal'  his,  until,  at  last,  as  the  one  idea  of 
his  being,  it  mastered  him  so  absolutely  that  a  division  of 
his  love  was  no  longer  possible.  If  the  misgiving  had  come 
alone,  the  pain  that  wrung  tho  'tzin  would  have  resolved 
itself  in  pity  for  the  victim,  so  old,  so  faithful,  so  passionate ; 
but  a  dreadful  consequence  at  once  presented  itself.  By  a 
strange  fatality,  the  mystic  had  been  taken  into  the  royal 
councils,  where,  from  force  of  faith,  he  had  gained  faith. 
Now,  —  and  this  was  the  dread,  —  what  if  he  had  cast  the 
glamour  of  his  mind  over  the  king's,  and  superinduced  a 
policy  which  had  for  object  and  end  the  peaceable  transfer 
of  the  nation  to  the  strangers] 

This  thought  thrilled  the  'tzin  indefinably,  and  in  a  mo 
ment  his  pity  changed  to  deep  distrust.  To  master  himself, 
he  walked  away ;  coming  back,  he  said  quietly,  "  The  day 
you  pray  for  has  come  ;  rejoice,  if  you  can." 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,"  said  Mualox. 

"  I  will  explain.  This  is  the  day  of  tho  incensing  of  Huit- 
zil',  which,  you  know,  has  been  celebrated  for  ages  as  a  festi 
val  religious  and  national.  This  morning,  as  customary, 
lords  and  priests,  personages  the  noblest  and  most  venerated, 
assembled  in  the  court-yard  of  the  temples.  To  bring  the 
great  wrong  out  in  clearer  view,  I  ought  to  say,  father,  that 
permission  to  celebrate  had  been  asked  of  Tonatiah,  and  given, 
—  to  such  a  depth  have  we  fallen  !  And,  as  if  to  plunge 
us  into  a  yet  lower  deep,  he  forbade  the  king's  attendance, 
and  said  to  the  teotuctli,  '  There  shall  be  no  sacrifice.' " 

"  No  victims,  no  blood  !  "  cried  Mualox,  clasping  his  hands. 
"  Blessed  be  Quetzal' !  " 

The  'tzin  bore  the  interruption,  though  with  an  effort. 

"  In  the  midst  of  the  service,"  he  continued,  "  when  the 
yard  was  most  crowded,  and  the  revelry  gayeafc,  and  the  good 


THE  'TZIN'S  FAREWELL  TO   QUETZAL'.  369 

company  most  happy  and  unsuspecting,  dancing,  singing, 
feasting,  suddenly  Tonatiah  and  his  people  rushed  upon 
them,  and  began  to  kill,  and  stayed  not  their  hands  until,  of 
all  the  revellers,  not  one  was  left  alive ;  leaders  in  battle, 
ministers  at  the  altar,  old  and  young,  —  all  were  slain !  * 
0  such  a  piteous  sight !  The  court  is  a  pool  of  blood. 
Who  will  restore  the  flower  this  day  torn  from  the  nation  ] 

0  holy  gods,  what  have  we  done  to  merit  such  calamity  1 " 
Mualox  listened,  his  hands  still  clasped. 

"  Not  one  left  alive  !     Not  one,  did  you  say  ? " 

"  Not  one." 

The  paba  arose  from  his  stooping,  and  upon  the  'tzin 
flashed  the  old  magnetic  flame. 

"  What  have  you  done,  ask  you  1  Sinned  against  the 
true  and  only  god  —  " 

"  I  ? "  said  the  'tzin,  for  the  moment  shrinking. 

"  The  nation,  —  the  nation,  blind  to  its  crimes,  no  less 
blind  to  the  beginning  of  its  punishment !  What  you  call 
calamity,  I  call  vengeance.  Starting  in  the  house  of  Huitzil', 
—  the  god  for  whom  my  god  was  forsaken,  —  it  will  next 
go  to  the  city ;  and  if  the  lords  so  perish,  how  may  the 
people  escape  'I  Let  them  tremble  !  He  is  come,  he  is  come  ! 

1  knew  him  afar,  I  know  him  here.     I  heard  his  step  in  the 
valley,  I  see  his  hand  in  the  court.     Rejoice,  0  'tzin  !     He 
has  drunk  the  blood  of  the  sacrificers.     To-morrow  his  house 
must  be  made  ready  to  receive  him.     Go  not  away  !     Stay, 
and  help  me !     I  am    old.     Of  the  treasure  below  I  might 
make  use  to  buy  help  ;  but  suelr  preparation,  like  an  offer 
ing  at  the  altar,  is  most  acceptable  when  induced  by  love. 
Love  for  love.     So  said  Quetzal'  in  the  beginning;  so  he 
Bays  now." 

*  Sahagun,  Hist,  de  Nueva  Esp.     Gomara,  Cronica.     Prescott,  Con<j. 
of  Mexico. 

16* 


370  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


"  Let  me  be  sure  I  understand  you,  father.  What  do  you 
•offer  me  1 "  asked  the  'tzin,  quietly. 

"  Escape  from  the  wrath,"  replied  Mualox. 

"  And  what  is  required  of  me  1 " 

"  To  stay  here,  and,  with  me,  serve  his  altar." 

"  Is  the  king  also  to  be  saved  1 " 

"  Surely  ;  he  is  already  a  servant  of  the  god's." 

Under  his  gown  the  'tzin's  heart  heat  quicker,  for  the  ques 
tion  and  answer  were  close  upon  the  fear  newly  come  to  him, 
as  I  have  said ;  yet,  to  leave  the  point  unguarded  in  the 
paba's  mind,  he  asked,  — 

"  And  the  people  :  if  I  become  what  you  ask,  will  they 
be  saved  ? " 

"  No.     They  have  forgotten  Quetzal'  utterly." 

"  When  the  king  became  your  fellow-servant,  father,  made 
he  no  terms  for  his  dependants,  for  the  nation,  for  his 
family?" 

"  None." 

Guatamozin  dropped  the  hood  upon  his  shoulders,  and 
looked  at  Mualox  sternly  and  steadily  ;  and  between  them 
ensued  one  of  those  struggles  of  spirit  against  spirit  in  which 
glances  are  as  glittering  swords,  and  the  will  holds  the  place 
of  skill. 

"  Father,"  he  said,  at  length,  "  I  have  been  accustomed  to 
love  and  obey  you.  I  thought  you  good  and  wise,  and  con 
versant  with  things  divine,  and  that  one  so  faithful  to  his 
god  must  be  as  faithful  to  his  country  ;  for  to  me,  love  of 
one  is  love  of  the  other.  But  now  I  know  you  better.  You 
tell  me  that  Quetzal'  has  come,  and  for  vengeance ;  and  that, 
in  the  fire  of  his  wrath,  the  nation  will  be  destroyed ;  yet 
you  exult,  and  endeavor  to  speed  the  day  by  prayer.  And 
now,  too,  I  understand  the  destiny  you  had  in  store  for  me. 
By  hiding  in  this  gown,  -and  becoming  a  priest  at  your  altar, 
I  wsis  to  escape  the  universal  death.  What  the.  king  did,  I 


THE  'TZIN'S   FAREWELL  TO  QUETZAL'.  371 

was  to  do.  Hear  me  now  :  I  cut  myself  loose  from  you. 
With  my  own  eyes  I  look  into  the  future.  I  spurn  the  des 
tiny,  and  for  myself  will  carve  out  a  better  one  by  saving  or 
perishing  with  my  race.  No  more  waiting  on  others  !  no 
more  weakness  !  I  will  go  hence  and  strike  —  " 

"  Whom  1 "  asked  Mualox,  impulsively.  "  The  king  and 
the  god  1 " 

"  He  is  not  my  god,"  said  the  'tzin,  interrupting  him  in 
turn.  "  The  enemy  of  my  race  is  my  enemy,  whether  he  be 
king  or  god.  As  for  Montezuma,"  —  at  the  name  his  voice 
and  manner  changed,  —  "I  will  go  humbly,  and,  from  the 
dust  into  which  he  flung  them,  pick  up  his  royal  duties. 
Alas  !  no  other  can.  Cnitlahua  is  a  prisoner  ;  so  is  Cacama ; 
and  in  the  court-yard  yonder,  cold  in  death,  lie  the  lords  who 
might  with  them  contest  the  crown  and  its  tribulations.  I 
alone  am  left.  And  as  to  Quetzal',  —  I  accept  the  doom  of 
my  country,  —  into  the  heart  of  his  divinity  I  cast  my  spear ! 
So,  farewell,  father.  As  a  faithful  servant,  you  cannot  bless 
whom  your  god  has  cursed.  With  you,  however,  be  all  the 
peace  and  safety  that  abide  here.  Farewell." 

"  Go  not,  go  not !  "  cried  Mualox,  as  the  'tzin,  calling  to 
Htialpa,  turned  his  back  upon  him.  "We  have  been  as 
father  and  son.  I  am  old.  See  how  sorrow  shakes  these 
hands,  stretched  toward  you  in  love." 

Seeing  the  appeal  was  vain,  the  paba  stepped  forward  and 
caught  the  'tzin's  arm,  and  said,  "  I  pray  you  stay,  —  stay. 
The  destiny  follows  Quetzal',  and  is  close  at  hand,  and  brings 
in  its  arms  the  throne." 

Neither  the  tempter  nor  the  temptation  moved  the  'tzin  ; 
he  called  Hualpa  again  ;  then  the  holy  man  let  go  his  arm, 
and  said,  sadly,  "  Go  thy  way,  —  one  scoffer  more  !  Or,  if 
you  stay,  hear  of  what  the  god  will  accuse  you,  so  that, 
when  your  calamity  comes,  as  come  it  will,  yow  may  not 
accuse  him." 


372  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  I  will  hear." 

"  Know,  then,  0  'tzin,  that  Quetzal',  the  day  he  landed 
from  Tlapallan,  took  you  in  his  care ;  a  little  later,  he  caused 
you  to  be  sent  into  exile  —  " 

"  Your  god  did  that !  "  exclaimed  the  'tzin.     "  And  why  ?  " 

"  Out  of  the  city  there  was  safety,"  replied  Mualox, 
sententiously ;  in  a  moment,  he  continued,  "  Such,  I  say, 
was  the  beginning.  Attend  to  what  has  followed.  After 
Montezuma  went  to  dwell  with  the  strangers,  the  king 
of  Tezcuco  revolted,  and  drew  after  him  the  lords  of 
Iztapalapan,  Tlacopan,  and  others ;  to-day  they  are  prisoners, 
while  you  are  free.  Next,  aided  by  Tlalac,  you  planned  the 
rescue  of  the  king  by  force  in  the  teocallis  ;  for  that  offence 
the  officers  hunted  you,  and  have  not  given  over  their  quest ; 
but  the  cells  of  Quetzal'  are  deep  and  dark  ;  I  called  you  in, 
and  yet  you  are  safe.  To-day  Quetzal'  appeared  amongst  the 
celebrants,  and  to-night  there  is  mourning  throughout  the 
valley,  and  the  city  groans  under  the  bloody  sorrow  ;  still 
you  are  safe.  A  few  days  ago,  in  the  old  palace  of  Axaya', 
the  king  assembled  his  lords,  and  there  he  and  they  became 
the  avowed  subjects  of  a  new  king,  Malinche's  master ;  since 
that  the  people,  in  their  ignorance,  have  rung  the  heavens 
with  their  curses.  You  alone  escaped  that  bond  ;  so  that,  if 
Montezuma  were  to  join  his  fathers,  asleep  in  Chapultepec, 
whom  would  soldier,  priest,  arid  citizen  call  to  the  throne  1 
Of  the  nobles  living,  how  many  are  free  to  be  king  ?  And 
of  all  the  empire,  how  many  are  there  of  whom  I  might 
say,  '  He  forgot  not  Quetzal' '  ?  One  only.  And  now,  0 
son,  ask  you  of  what  you  will  be  accused,  if  you  abandon  this 
house  and  its  god  1  or  what  will  be  forfeit,  if  now  you  turn 
your  back  upon  them  1  Is  there  a  measure  for  the  iniquity 
of  ingratitude  ?  If  you  go  hence  for  any  purpose  of  war, 
remember  Quetzal'  neither  forgets  nor  forgives ;  better  that 
you  had  never  been  born." 


THE   'TZIN'S   FAREWELL   TO  QUETZAL'.  373 

By  this  time,  Hualpa  had  joined  the  party.  Resting  his 
hand  upon  the  young  man's  shoulder,  the  'tzin  fixed  on 
Mualox  a  look  severe  and  steady  as  his  own,  and  replied, — 
"  Father,  a  man  knows  not  himself ;  still  less  knows  he  other 
men  ;  if  so,  how  should  I  know  a  being  so  great  as  you 
claim  your  god  to  be  ?  Heretofore,  I  have  been  contented 
to  see  Quetzal'  as  you  have  painted  him,  —  a  fair-faced? 
gentle,  loving  deity,  to  whom  human  sacrifice  was  espe 
cially  abhorrent ;  but  what  shall  I  say  of  him  whom  you 
have  now  given  me  to  study  ?  If  he  neither  forgets  nor 
forgives,  wherein  is  he  better  than  the  gods  of  Mictlan  ? 
Hating,  as  you  have  said,  the  sacrifice  of  one  man,  he 
now  proposes,  you  say,  not  as  a  process  of  ages,  but  at 
once,  by  a  blow  or  a  breath,  to  slay  a  nation  number 
ing  millions.  When  was  Huitzil'  so  awfully  worshipped? 
He  will  spare  the  king,  you  further  say,  because  he  has 
become  his  servant;  and  I  can  find  grace  by  a  like  sub 
mission.  Father,"  —  and  as  he  spoke  the  'tzin's  manner  be 
came  inexpressibly  noble,  —  "father,  who  of  choice  would 
live  to  be  the  last  of  his  race  ?  The  destiny  brings  me  a 
crown:  tell  me,  when  your  god  has.  glutted  himself,  where 
shall  I  find  subjects  ?  Comes  he  in  person  or  by  representa 
tive  ?  Am  I  to  be  his  crowned  slave  or  Malinche's  ?  Once 
for  all,  let  Quetzal'  enlarge  his  doom;  it  is  sweeter  than 
what  you  call  his  love.  1  will  go  fight ;  and,  if  the  gods  of 
my  fathers  —  in  this  hour  become  dearer  and  holier  than 
ever  —  so  decree,  will  die  with  my  people.  Again,  father, 
farewell." 

Again  the  withered  hands  arose  tremulously,  and  a  look 
of  exceeding  anguish  came  to  the  paba's  help. 

"  If  not  for  love  of  me,  or  of  self,  or  of  Quetzal',  then 
for  love  of  woman,  stay. " 

Guatamozin  turned  quickly.     "  What  of  her  ?  " 

"  O  *tzin,  the  destiny  you  put  aside  is  hers  no  less  than 
yours." 


374  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


The  'tzin  raised  higher  his  princely  head,  and  answered, 
smiling  joyously,  — 

"  Then,  father,  by  whatever  charm,  or  incantation,  or 
virtue  of  prayer  you  possess,  hasten  the  destiny,  —  hasten 
it,  I  conjure  you.  A  tomb  would  be  a  palace  with  her,  a 
palace  would  be  a  tomb  without  her." 

And  with  the  smile  still  upon  his  face,  and  the  resolution 
yet  in  his  heart,  he  again,  and  for  the  last  time,  turned  his 
back  upon  Mualox. 


CHAPTEE   V. 

THE  CELLS  OF  QUETZAL*  AGAIN. 


«     A    victim  !     A  victim  !  " 
XJL     "  Hi,  hi !  " 


"  Catch  him !  " 

"  Stone  him  !  " 

"  Kill  him  !  " 

So  cried  a  mob,  at  the  time  in  furious  motion  up  the 
beautiful  street.  Numbering  hundreds  already,  it  increased 
momentarily,  and  howled  as  only  such  a  monster  can. 
Scarce  eighty  yards  in  front  ran  its  game,  —  Orteguilla,  the 
page. 

The  boy  was  in  desperate  strait.  His  bonnet,  secured  by 
a  braid,  danced  behind  him ;  his  short  cloak,  of  purple  vel 
vet,  a  little  faded,  fluttered  as  if  struggling  to  burst  the 
throat-loop ;  his  hands  were  clenched ;  his  face  pale  with 
fear  and  labor.  He  ran  with  all  his  might,  often  looking 
back  ;  and  as  his  course  was  up  the  street,  the  old  palace  of 
Axaya'  must  have  been  the  goal  he  sought,  —  a  long,  long 
way  off  for  one  unused  to  such  exertion  and  so  fiercely 
pressed.  At  every  backward  glance,  he  cried,  iu  agony  of 


THE  CELLS  OF  QUETZAL'  AGAIN.  375 

terror,  "  Help  me,  0  Mother  of  Christ !  By  God's  love, 
help  me  !  "  The  enemy  was  gaining  upon  him. 

The  lad,  as  I  think  I  have  before  remarked,  had  been  de 
tailed  by  Cortes  to  attend  Montezuina,  with  whom,  as  he 
was  handsome  and  witty,  and  had  soon  acquired  the  Aztecan 
tongue  and  uncommon  skill  at  totoloqtte,  he  had  become  an 
accepted  favorite ;  so  that,  while  useful  to  the  monarch  as  a 
servant,  he«was  no  less  useful  to  the  Christian  as  a  detective. 
In  the  course  of  his  service,  he  had  been  frequently  in 
trusted  with  his  royal  master's  signet,  the  very  highest  mark 
of  confidence.  Every  day  he  executed  errands  in  the  tian- 
yiiez,  and  sometimes  in  even  remoter  quarters  of  the  city. 
As  a  consequence  he  had  come  to  be  quite  well  known,  and 
to  this  day  nothing  harmful  or  menacing  had  befallen  him, 
although,  as  was  not  hard  to  discern,  the  people  would 
have  been  better  satisfied  had  Maxtla  been  charged  with 
such  duties. 

On  this  occasion,  —  the  day  after  the  interview  between 
the  'tzin  and  Mualox,  —  while  executing  some  trifling  com 
mission  in  the  market,  he  became  conscious  of  a  change  in 
the  demeanor  of  those  whom  he  met ;  of  courtesies,  there 
were  none  ;  he  was  not  once  saluted  ;  even  the  jewellers  with 
whom  he  dealt  viewed  him  coldly,  and  asked  not  a  word 
about  the  king  ;  yet,  unaware  of  danger,  he  went  to  the 
portico  of  the  Chalcan,  and  sat  awhile,  enjoying  the  shade 
and  the  fountain,  and  listening  to  the  noisy  commerce 
without. 

Presently,  he  heard  a  din  of  conchs  and  attabals,  the 
martial  music  of  the  Aztecs.  Somewhat  startled,  and 
half  hidden  by  the  curtains,  he  looked  out,  and  be 
held,  coming  from  the  direction  of  the  king's  palace,  a 
procession  bearing  ensigns  and  banners  of  all  shapes,  de 
signs,  and  colors. 

At  the  first  sound  of  the  music,  the  people,  of  whom,  as 


376  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


usual,  there  were  great  numbers  in  the  tianguez,  quitted  their 
occupations,  and  ran  to  meet  the  spectacle,  which,  without 
halting,  came  swiftly  down  to  the  Chalcan's  ;  so  that 
there  passed  within  a  few  feet  of  the  adventurous  page 
a  procession  rarely  beautiful,  —  a  procession  of  warriors  march 
ing  in  deep  files,  each  one  helmeted,  and  with  a  shield  at  his 
back,  and  a  banner  in  his  hand,  —  an  army  with  banners. 

At  the  head,  apart  from  the  others,  strode  a  chief  whom 
all  eyes  followed.  Even  Orteguilla  was  impressed  with  his 
appearance.  He  wore  a  tunic  of  very  brilliant  feather-work, 
the  skirt  of  which  fell  almost  to  his  knees  ;  from  the  skirt 
to  the  ankles  his  lower  limbs  were  bare  ;  around  the  ankles, 
over  the  thongs  of  the  sandals,  were  rings  of  furbished  silver  ; 
on  his  left  arm  he  carried  a  shield  of  shining  metal,  probably 
brass,  its  rim  fringed  with  locks  of  flowing  hair,  and  in  the 
centre  the  device  of  an  owl,  snow-white,  and  wrought  of  the 
plumage  of  the  bird ;  over  his  temples,  fixed  firmly  in  the 
golden  head-band,  there  were  wings  of  a  parrot,  green  as 
emerald,  and  half  spread.  He  exceeded  his  followers  in 
stature,  which  appeared  the  greater  by  reason  of  the  long 
Chinantlan  spear  in  his  right  hand,  used  as  a  staff.  To  the 
whole  was  added  an  air  severely  grand  ;  for,  as  he  marched,  he 
looked  neither  to  the  right  nor  left,  —  apparently  too  absorbed 
to  notice  the  people,  many  of  whom  even  knelt  upon  his 
approach.  From  the  cries  that  saluted  the  chief,  together 
with  the  descriptions  he  had  often  heard  of  him,  Orteguilla 
recognized  Guatamozin. 

The  procession  wellnigh  passed,  and  the  young  Span 
iard  was  studying  the  devices  on  the  ensigns,  when  a  hand 
was  laid  upon  his  shoulder  ;  turning  quickly  to  the  intruder, 
he  saw  the  prince  Io',  whom  he  was  in  the  habit  of  meet 
ing  daily  in  the  audience-chamber  of  the  king.  The  prince 
met  his  smile  and  pleasantry  with  a  sombre  face,  and  said, 
coldly,  — 


THE  CELLS  OF  QUETZAL'  AGAIN.  377 

"  You  have  been  kind  to  the  king,  my  father ;  he  loves 
you  ;  on  your  hand  I  see  his  signet ;  therefore  I  will  serve 
you.  Arise,  and  begone;  stay  not  a  moment.  You  were 
never  nearer  death  than  now." 

Orteguilla,  scarce  comprehending,  would  have  questioned 
him,  but  the  prince  spoke  on. 

"  The  chiefs  who  inhabit  here  are  in  the  procession.  Had 
they  found  you,  HuitziT  would  have  had  a  victim  before  sun 
set.  Stay  not ;  begone  !  " 

While  speaking,  Io'  moved  to  the  curtained  doorway  from 
which  he  had  just  come.  "  Beware  of  the  people  in  the 
square  ;  trust  not  to  the  signet.  My  father  is  still  the  king ; 
but  the  lords  and  pabas  have  given  his  power  to  another,  — 
him  whom  you  saw  pass  just  now  before  the  banners.  In 
all  Anahuac  Guatamozin's  word  is  the  law,  and  that  word 
is  — War."  And  with  that  he  passed  into  the  house. 

The  page  was  a  soldier,  not  so  much  in  strength  as  experi 
ence,  and  brave  from  habit ;  now,  however,  his  heart  stood 
still,  and  a  deadly  coldness  came  over  him ;  his  life  was  in 
peril.  What  was  to  be  done  1 

The  procession  passed  by,  with  the  multitude  in  a  fever  of 
enthusiasm ;  then  the  lad  ventured  to  leave  the  portico,  and 
start  for  his  quarters,  to  gain  which  he  had  first  to  traverse  the 
side  of  the  square  he  was  on  ;  that  done,  he  would  be  in  the 
beautiful  street,  going  directly  to  the  desired  place.  He  strove 
to  carry  his  ordinary  air  of  confidence;  but  the  quick  step, 
pale  face,  and  furtive  glance  would  have  been  tell-tales  to  the 
shopkeepers  and  slaves  whom  he  passed,  if  they  had  been  the 
least  observant.  As  it  was,  he  had  almost  reached  the  street, 
and  was  felicitating  himself,  when  he  heard  a  yell  behind 
him.  He  looked  back,  and  beheld  a  party  of  warriors 
coming  at  full  speed.  Tb^ir  cries  and  gestures  left  no  room 
to  doubt  that  he  was  their  object.  He  started  at  once  for  life. 

The    noise  drew  everybody  to  the  doors,  and  forthwith 


378  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


everybody  joined  the  chase.  After  passing  several  bridges, 
the  leading  pursuers  were  about  seventy  yards  behind  him, 
followed  by  a  stream  of  supporters  extending  to  the  tianguez 
and  beyond.  So  we  have  the  scene  with  which  the  chapter 
opens. 

The  page's  situation  was  indeed  desperate.  He  had  not 
yet  reached  the  king's  palace,  on  the  other  side  of  which,  as 
he  knew,  lay  a  stretch  of  street  frightful  to  think  of  in  such 
a  strait.  The  mob  was  coining  rapidly.  To  add  to  his 
horror,  in  front  appeared  a  body  of  men  armed  and  marching 
toward  him  ;  at  the  sight,  they  halted ;  then  they  formed  a 
line  of  interception.  His  steps  flagged ;  fainter,  but  more 
agonizing,  arose  his  prayer  to  Christ  and  the  Mother.  Into 
the  recesses  on  either  hand,  and  into  the  doors  and  windows, 
and  up  to  the  roofs,  and  down  into  the  canals,  he  cast  des 
pairing  glances  ;  but  chance  there  was  not ;  capture  was  cer 
tain,  and  then  the  — SACRIFICE  ! 

That  moment  he  reached  a  temple  of  the  ancient  construc 
tion,  —  properly  speaking,  a  Cu,  —  low,  broad,  massive,  in 
architecture  not  unlike  the  Egyptian,  and  with  steps  along 
the  whole  front.  He  took  no  thought  of  its  appearance, 
nor  of  what  it  might  contain ;  he  saw  no  place  of  refuge 
within  ;  his  terror  had  become  a  blind,  unreasoning  madness. 
To  escape  the  sacrifice  was  his  sole  impulse  ;  and  I  am  not 
sure  but- that  he  would  have  regarded  death  in  any  form  other 
than  at  the  hands  of  the  pabas  as  an  escape.  So  he  turned, 
and  darted  up  the  steps ;  before  his  foremost  pursuer  was  at 
the  bottom,  he  was  at  the  top. 

With  a  glance  he  swept  the  azoteas.  Through  the  wide, 
doorless  entrance  of  a  turret,  he  saw  an  altar  of  stainless 
white  marble,  decorated  profusely  with  flowers ;  imagining 
there  might  be  pabas  present,  and  possibly  devotees,  he  ran 
around  the  holy  place,  and  came  to  a  flight  of  steps,  down 
which  he  passed  to  a  court-yard  bounded  on  every  side  by  a 


LOST  IN  THE   OLD  CO.  379 

colonnade.     A  narrow  doorway  at  his  right  hand,  full  oi 
darkness,  offered  him  a  hiding-place. 

In  calmer  mood,  I  doubt  if  the  young  Spaniard  could  have 
been  induced  alone  to  try  the  interior  of  the  Cu.  He  would 
at  least  have  studied  the  building  with  reference  to  the  car 
dinal  points  of  direction  ;  now,  however,  driven  by  the  ter 
rible  fear,  without  thought  or  question,  without  precaution 
of  any  kind,  taking  no  more  note  of  distance  than  course, 
into  the  doorway,  into  the  unknown,  headlong  he  plunged. 
The  darkness  swallowed  him  instantly  ;  yet  he  did  not  abate 
his  speed,  for  behind  him  he  heard  —  at  least  he  fancied  so 
—  the  swift  feet  of  pursuers.  Either  the  dear  Mother  of  his 
prayers,  or  some  ministering  angel,  had  him  in  keeping  dur 
ing  the  blind  flight ;  but  at  last  he  struck  obliquely  against 
a  wall ;  in  the  effort  to  recover  himself,  he  reeled  against 
another ;  then  he  measured  his  length  upon  the  floor,  and 
remained  exhausted  and  fainting. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

LOST   IN    THE   OLD   CU. 

THE  page  at  last  awoke  from  his  stupor.  "With  difficulty 
he  recalled  his  wandering  senses.  He  sat  up,  and  was 
confronted  everywhere  by  a  darkness  like  that  in  sealed 
tombs.  Could  he  be  blind?  He  rubbed  his  eyes,  and 
strained  their  vision ;  he  saw  nothing.  Baffled  in  the  ap 
peal  to  that  sense,  he  resorted  to  another;  he  felt  of  his 
head,  arms,  limbs,  and  was  reassured  :  he  not  only  lived, 
but,  save  a  few  bruises,  was  sound  of  body.  Then  he  ex 
tended  the  examination  ;  he  felt  of  the  floor,  and,  stretching 
his  arms  right  and  left,  diseovered  a  wall,  which,  like  the 


380  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


floor,  was  of  masonry.  The  cold  stone,  responding  to  the 
touch,  sent  its  chill  along  his  sluggish  veins  ;  the  close  air 
made  breathing  hard  ;  the  silence,  absolutely  lifeless,  —  and 
in  that  respect  so  unlike  what  we  call  silence  in  the  outer 
world,  which,  after  all,  is  but  the  time  chosen  by  small 
things,  the  entities  of  the  dust  and  grass  and  winds,  for 
their  hymnal  service,  heard  full-toned  in  heaven,  if  not  by 
us,  • —  the  dead,  stagnant,  unresonant  silence,  such  as  haunts 
the  depths  of  old  mines  and  lingers  in  the  sunken  crypts  of 
abandoned  castles,  awed  and  overwhelmed  his  soul. 

Where  was  he  1  How  came  he  there  1  With  head  droop 
ing,  and  hands  and  arms  resting  limp  upon  the  floor,  weak 
in  body  and  spirit,  he  sat  a  long  time  motionless,  struggling 
to  recall  the  past,  which  came  slowly,  enabling  him  to  see 
the  race  again  with  all  its  incidents  :  the  enemy  in  rear,  the 
enemy  in  front ;  the  temple  stairs,  with  their  offer  of  escape  ; 
the  azoteas,  the  court,  the  dash  into  the  doorway  under  the 
colonnade,  —  all  came  back  slowly,  I  say,  bringing  a  dread 
that  he  was  lost,  and  that,  in  a  frantic  effort  to  avoid  death 
in  one  form,  he  had  run  open-eyed  to  embrace  it  in  another 
even  more  horrible. 

The  dread  gave  him  strength.  He  arose  to  his  feet,  and 
stood  awhile,  straining  his  memory  to  recall  the  direction  of 
the  door  which  had  admitted  him  to  the  passage.  Could  he 
find  that  door,  he  would  wait  a  fitting  time  to  slip  from  the 
temple  ;  for  which  he  would  trust  the  Mother  and  watch. 
But  now,  what  was  done  must  needs  be  done  quickly  ;  for, 
though  but  an  ill-timed  fancy,  he  thought  he  felt  a  sen- 
Bation  of  hunger,  indicating  that  he  had  been  a  long  time 
lying  there  ;  how  long,  of  course,  he  knew  not. 

Memory  served  him  illy,  or  rather  not  at  all ;  so  that 
nothing  would  do  now  but  to  feel  his  way  out.  0  for  a 
light,  if  only  a  spark  from  a  gunner's  match,  or  the  moony 
gleam  of  a  Cuban  glow-worm  ! 


LOST   IN  THE   OLD   CO.  381 


As  every  faculty  was  now  alert,  he  was  conscious  of  the 
importance  of  the  start ;  if  that  were  in  the  wrong  direction, 
every  inch  would  be  from  the  door,  and,  possibly,  toward 
his  grave.  First,  then,  was  he  in  a  hall  or  a  chamber  1  He 
hoped  the  former,  for  then  there  would  be  but  two  directions 
from  which  to  choose ;  and  if  he  took  the  wrong  one,  no 
matter  ;  he  had  only  to  keep  on  until  the  fact  was  made  clear 
by  the  trial,  and  then  retrace  his  steps.  "  Thanks,  0  Holy 
Mother  !  In  the  darkness  thou  art  with  thy  children  no  less 
than  in  the  day  !  "  And  with  the  pious  words,  he  crossed 
himself,  forehead  and  breast,  and  set  about  the  work. 

To  find  if  he  were  in  a  passage,  —  that  was  the  first  point. 
He  laid  his  hand  upon  the  wall  again,  and  started  in  the 
course  most  likely,  as  he  believed,  to  take  him  to  the  day 
light,  never  before  so  beautiful  to  his  mind. 

The  first  step  suggested  a  danger.  There  might  be  traps 
in  the  floor.  He  had  heard  the  question  often  at  the  camp- 
fire,  "What  is  done  with  the  bodies  of  the  victims  offered  up 
in  the  heathen  worship  1  Some  said  they  were  eaten ;  others, 
that  there  were  vast  receptacles  for  them  in  the  ungodly 
temples,  —  miles  and  miles  of  catacombs,  filled  with  myriads 
of  bones  of  priests  and  victims.  If  he  should  step  off  into  a 
pit  devoted  to  such  a  use !  His  hair  bristled  at  the  thought. 
Carefully,  slowly,  therefore,  his  hands  pressed  against  the 
rough  wall,  his  steps  short,  one  foot  advanced  to  feel  the 
Avay  for  the  other,  so  he  went,  and  such  was  the  necessity. 

Scarcely  three  steps  on  he  found  another  dilemma.  The 
wall  suddenly  fell  away  under  his  hand ;  he  had  come  to 
the  angle  of  a  corner.  He  stopped  to  consider.  Should  he 
follow  the  wall  in  its  new  course  1  It  occurred  to  him  that 
the  angle  was  made  by  a  crossing  of  passages,  that  he  was 
then  in  the  square  of  their  intersection ;  so  the  chances  of 
finding  the  right  outlet  were  three  to  one  against  him.  He 
was  more  than  ever  confused.  Hope  went  into  low  ebb. 


382  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


Would  he  ever  get  out?  Had  lie  been  missed  in  the  old 
palace  ?  If  hostilities  had  broken  out,  as  intimated  by  the 
prince  Io',  would  his  friends  be  permitted  to  look  for  him  in 
the  city  1  The  king  was  his  friend,  but,  alas  !  his  power  had 
been  given  to  another.  .  No,  there  was  no  help  for  him  ;  he 
must  stay  there  as  in  his  tomb,  and  die  of  hunger  and  thirst, 
— die  slowly,  hour  by  hour,  minute  by  minute.  Already 
'the  fever  of  famine  was  in  his  blood,  —  next  to  the  fact  is 
the  fancy.  If  his  organism  had  begun  to  consume  itself, 
how  long  could  he  last  ?  Never  were  moments  so  precioiis 
to  him.  Each  one  carried  off  a  fraction  of  the  strength 
upon  which  his  escape  depended  ;  each  one  must,  therefore, 
be  employed.  ~No  more  loitering ;  action,  action  !  In  the 
darkness  he  looked  to  heaven,  and  prayed  tearfully  to  the 
Mother. 

The  better  to  understand  his  situation,  and  what  he  did, 
it  may  be  well  enough  to  say  here,  that  the  steps  by  which 
he  descended  into  the  court-yard  faced  the  west ;  and  as, 
from  the  court,  he  took  shelter  in  a  door  to  his  right,  the 
passage  must  have  run  due  north.  When,  upon  recovery 
from  the  fainting-spell,  he  started  to  regain  the  door,  he  was 
still  in  the  passage,  but  unhappily  followed  its  continuation 
northward  ;  every  step,  in  that  course,  consequently,  was 
so  much  into  instead  of  out  of  the  labyrinth.  And  now, 
to  make  the  situation  worse,  he  weakly  clung  to  the  Avail, 
and  at  the  corner  turned  to  the  right ;  after  which  his  pain 
ful,  toilsome  progress  was  to  the  east,  where  the  chances 
were  sure  to  be  complicated. 

If  the  reader  has  ever  tried  to  pass  through  a  strange 
hall  totally  darkened,  he  can  imagine  the  young  Spaniard 
in  motion.  Each  respiration,  each  movement,  was  doubly 
loud ;  the  slide  and  shuffle  of  the  feet,  changing  position, 
filled  the  rock-bound  space  with  echoes,  which,  by  a  cooler 
head  than  his,  might  have  been  made  tell  the  width  and 


LOST  IN   THE  OLD  CO.  383 


height  of  the  passage,  and  something  of  its  depth.  There 
were  times  when  the  sounds  seemed  startlingly  like  the 
noise  of  another  person  close  by  ;  then  he  would  stop,  lay 
hand  on  his  dagger,  the  only  weapon  he  had,  and  listen  ner 
vously,  undetermined  what  to  do. 

In  the  course  of  the  tedious  movement,  he  came  to  narrow 
apertures  at  intervals  in  the  wall,  which  he  surmised  to  be 
doors  of  apartments.  Before  some  of  them  he  paused,  think 
ing  they  might  be  occupied ;  but  nothing  came  from  them, 
or  was  heard  within,  but  the  hollow  reverberations  usual 
to  empty  chambers.  The  crackle  of  cement  underfoot  and 
the  crevices  in  the  wall  filled  with  dust  assured  him  that 
a  long  time  had  passed  since  a  saving  hand  had  been  there ; 
yet  the  evidences  that  the  old  pile  had  once  been  popu 
lous  made  its  present  desertion  all  the  more  impressive. 
Afterwhile  he  began  to  wish  for  the  appearance  of  some 
body,  though  an  enemy.  Yet  farther  on,  when  the  awful 
silence  and  darkness  fully  kindled  his  imagination,  and  gave 
him  for  companionship  the  spirits  of  the  pagans  who  had 
once  —  how  far  back,  who  could  say  1  —  made  the  cells 
animate  with  their  prayers  and  orgies,  the  yearning  for  the 
company  of  anything  living  and  susceptible  of  association 
became  almost  insupportable. 

Several  times,  as  he  advanced,  he  came  to  cross  passages. 
Of  the  distance  made,  he  could  form  no  idea.  Once  he 
descended  a  flight  of  steps,  and  at  the  bottom  judged  him 
self  a  story  below  the  level  of  the  court  and  street ;  reflect 
ing,  however,  that  he  could  not  have  clomb  them  on  the 
way  in  without  some  knowledge  of  them,  he  again  paused 
for  consideration.  The  end  of  the  passage  was  not  reached  : 
he  could  not  say  the  door  he  sought  was  not  there  ;  he  simply 
believed  not ;  still  he  resolved  to  go  back  to  the  starting-point 
and  begin  anew. 

He-  set  out  bravely,  and  proceeded  with  less  caution  than 


384  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

• 

in  coming.  Suddenly  he  stopped.  He  had  neglected  to 
count  the  doors  and  intersecting  passages  along  the  way ; 
consequently  he  could  not  identify  the  startir-g-point  when 
he  reached  it.  Merciful  God  !  he  was  now  indeed  LOST  ! 

For  a  time  he  struggled  against  the  conviction ;  but  when 
the  condition  was  actually  realized,  a  paroxysm  seized  him. 
He  raised  his  hands  wildly,  and  shouted,  Ola  !  Ola  !  The 
cry  smote  the  walls  near  by  until  they  rang  again,  and,  flying 
down  the  passage,  died  lingeringly  in  the  many  chambers, 
leaving  him  so  shaken  by  the  discordance  that  he  cowered 
nearly  to  the  floor,  as  if,  instead  of  human  help,  he  had  con 
jured  a  demon,  and  looked  for  its  instant  appearance.  Sum 
moning  all  his  resolution,  he  again  shouted  the  challenge, 
but  with  the  same  result ;  no  reply  except  the  mocking 
echoes,  no  help.  He  was  in  a  tomb,  buried  alive  !  And  at 
that  moment,  resulting  doubtless  from  the  fever  of  mind 
and  body,  he  was  conscious  of  the  first  decided  sensation 
of  thirst,  accompanied  by  the  thought  of  running  water, 
cool,  sweet,  and  limpid  ;  as  if  to  add  to  his  torture,  he 
saw  then,  not  only  that  he  was  immured  alive,  but  how 
and  of  what  he  was  to  die.  Then  also  he  saw  why  his 
enemies  gave  up  the  pursuit  at  the  passage-door.  Lost  in 
the  depths  of  the  Cu,  out  of  reach  of  help,  groping  here 
and  there  through  the  darkness,  in  hours  condensing  years 
of  suffering,  dead,  finally,  of  hunger  and  thirst,  —  was  he 
not  as  much  a  victim  as  if  formally  butchered  by  the  teo- 
tuctli  ?  And  if,  in  the  eyes  of  the  heathen  god,  suffering 
made  the  sacrifice  appreciable,  when  was  there  one  more 
perfect  1 

"  No,  no,"  he  cried,  "I  am  a  Christian,  in  care  of 
the  Christian's  God.  I  am  too  young,  too  strong.  I  can 
walk  ;  if  need  be,  run ;  and  there  are  hours  and  days  be 
fore  me.  I  will  find  the  door.  Courage,  courage  !  And 
thou,  dear,  blessed  Mother  !  if  ever  thou  dost  permit  a 


HOW  THE  HOLY  MOTHER  HELPS  HER  CHILDREN.   385 

shrine  in  the  chapel  of  this  heathen  house,  all  that  which 
the  Senor  Hernan  may  apportion  to  me  thou  shalt  have. 
Hear  my  vow,  0  sweet  Mother,  and  help  me  !  " 

How  many  heroisms,  attributed  to  duty,  or  courage,  or 
some  high  passion,  are  in  fact  due  to  the  utter  hopelessness, 
the  blindness  past  seeing,  the  fainting  of  the  soul  called 
despair  !  In  that  last  motive  what  mighty  energy  !  How  it 
now  nerved  Orteguilla  !  Down  the  passage  he  went,  and  with 
alacrity.  Not  that  he  had  a  plan,  or  with  the  mind's  eye 
even  saw  the  way,  —  not  at  all.  He  went  because  in  mo 
tion  there  was  soothing  to  his  very  despair ;  in  motion  he 
could  make  himself  believe  there  was  still  a  hope ;  in  mo 
tion  he  could  expect  each  moment  to  hail  the  welcome  door 
and  the  glory  of  the  light. 


CHAPTEE  VII. 

HOW  THE  HOLY  MOTHER  HELPS  HER  CHILDREN. 

I  DOUBT  not  my  reader  is  gentle,  good,  and  tender-heart 
ed,  easily  moved  by  tales  of  suffering,  and  nothing 
delighting  in  them ;  and  that,  with  such  benignant  qualities 
of  heart  and  such  commendable  virtues  of  taste,  he  will  ex 
cuse  me  if  I  turn  from  following  the  young  Spaniard,  who 
has  now  come  to  be  temporarily  a  hero  of  my  story,  and 
leave  to  the  imagination  the  details  of  the  long  round  of 
misery  he  endured  in  his  wanderings  through  the  interior  of 
the  old  Cu. 

Pathologists  will  admit  they  are  never  at  fault   or  loss 
in  the  diagnosis  of  cases  of   hunger  and  thirst.     Whether 
considered  as  disease  or  accident,  their  marks   are  unmis 
takable,  and  their  symptoms  before  dissolution,  like  their 
17  Y 


386  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


effects  afterwards,  invariable.  Both  may  be  simply  de 
scribed  as  consumption  of  the  body  by  its  own  organs  ;  pre 
cisely  as  if,  to  preserve  life,  one  devoured  his  own  flesh  and 
drank  his  own  blood.  Not  without  reason,  therefore,  tho 
suicide,  what  time  he  thinks  of  his  crime,  always,  when 
possible,  chooses  some  mode  easier  and  more  expeditious. 
The  gradations  to  the  end  are,  an  intense  desire  for  food 
and  drink ;  a  fever,  accompanied  by  exquisite  pain ; 
then  delirium ;  finally,  death.  It  is  in  the  second  and 
third  stages  that  the  peculiarities  show  most  strangely ; 
then  the  mind  cheats  the  body  with  visions  of  Tantalus. 
If  the  sufferer  be  thirst-stricken,  he  is  permitted  to  see 
fountains  and  sparkling  streams,  and  water  in  draughts  and 
rivers ;  if  he  be  starving,  the  same  mocking  fancy  spreads 
Apician  feasts  before  his  eyes,  and  stimulates  the  intolerable 
misery  by  the  sight  and  scent  of  all  things  delicious  and 
appetizing.  I  have  had  personal  experience  of  the  anguish 
and  delusions  of  which  I  speak.  I  know  what  they  are.  I 
pray  the  dear  Mother,  who  has  us  all  in  holy  care,  to  keep 
them  far  from  my  gentle  friends. 

***** 
A  day  and  night  in  the  temple,  —  another  day  and  night, 
—  morning  of  the  third  day,  and  we  discover  the  page  sit 
ting  upon  the  last  of  a  flight  of  steps.  No  water,  no  food 
in  all  that  time.  He  slept  once ;  how  long,  he  did  not  know. 
A  stone  floor  does  not  conduce  to  rest  even  where  there  is 
sleep.  All  that  time,  too,  the  wearisome  search  for  the  door ; 
groping  along  the  wall,  feeling  the  way  ell  by  ell ;  always 
at  fault  and  lost  utterly.  His  condition  can  be  understood 
almost  without  the  aid  of  description.  He  sits  on  the  step 
in  a  kind  of  stupor ;  his  cries  for  help  have  become  a  dull, 
unmeaning  moan ;  before  him  pass  the  fantasies  of  food  and 
water ;  and  could  the  light  —  the  precious,  beautiful  light,  so 
long  sought,  so  earnestly  prayed  and  struggled  for  — fall  upon 


HOW  THE  HOLY  MOTHER  HELPS  HER  CHILDREN.      387 

him,  we  should  have  a  sad  picture  of  the  gay  youth  who, 
in  the  market,  sported  his  velvet  cloak  and  feathered  bonnet, 
and  half  disdainfully  flashed  the  royal  signet  in  the  faces  of 
the  wondering  merchants,  —  the  picture  of  a  despairing 
creature  whom  much  misery  was  rapidly  bringing  down  to 
death. 

And  of  his  thoughts,  or,  rather,  the  vagaries  that  had  taken 
the  place  of  thoughts,  —  ah,  how  well  they  can  be  divined  ! 
Awhile  given  to  the  far-ofF  native  land,  and  the  loved  ones 
there,  —  land  and  loved  ones  never  again  to  be  seen  ;  then 
to  the  New  World,  full  of  all  things  strange ;  but  mostly  to 
his  situation,  lost  so  hopelessly,  suffering  so  dreadfully. 
There  were  yet  ideas  of  escape,  reawakenings  of  the  energy 
of  despair,  but  less  frequent  every  hour ;  indeed,  he  was  be 
coming  submissive  to  the  fate.  He  prayed,  also ;  but  his 
prayers  had  more  relation  to  the  life  to  come  than  to  this 
one.  To  die  without  Christian  rite,  to  leave  his  bones  in 
such  unhallowed  place !  0,  for  one  shrieving  word  from 
Father  Bartolome"  ! 

In  the  midst  of  his  wretchedness,  and  of  the  sighs  and 
sobs  and  tears  which  were  its  actual  expression,  suddenly 
the  ceiling  overhead  and  all  the  rugged  sides  of  the  passage 
above  the  line  of  the  upper  step  of  the  stairway  at  the  foot 
of  which  he  was  sitting  were  illumined  by  a  faint  red  glow 
of  light.  He  started  to  his  feet.  Could  it  be  1  Was  it  not 
a  delusion  1  Were  not  his  eyes  deceiving  him1?  In  the 
darkness  he  had  seen  banquets,  and  the  chambers  thereof, 
and  had  heard  the  gurgle  of  pouring  wine  and  water.  Was 
not  this  a  similar  trick  of  the  imagination1?  or  had  the 
Blessed  Mother  at  last  heard  his  supplications  ? 

He  looked  steadily;  the  glow  deepened.  O  wondrous 
charm  of  life  !  To  be,  after  dying  so  nearly,  brought  back 
with  such  strength,  so  quickly,  and  by  such  a  trifle  ! 

While  he  looked,  his  doubts  gave  way  to  certainty.    Light 


388  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


there  was,  —  essential,  revealing,  beautiful  light.  He  clasped 
his  hands,  and  the  tears  of  despair  became  tears  of  joy ;  all 
the  hopes  of  his  being,  which,  in  the  dreary  hours  just 
passed,  had  gone  out  as  stars  go  behind  a  spreading  cloud, 
rose  up  whirring,  like  a  flock  of  startled  birds,  and,  filling 
all  his  heart,  once  more  endued  him  with  strength  of  mind 
and  body.  He  passed  his  hands  across  his  eyes  :  still  the 
light  remained.  Surer  than  a  fantasy,  good  as  a  miracle, 
there  it  was,  growing  brighter,  and  approaching,  and  that, 
too,  by  the  very  passage  in  which  he  was  standing ;  whether 
borne  by  man  or  spirit,  friend  or  foe,  it  would  speedily  reach 
the  head  of  the  steps,  and  then  — 

Out  of  the  very  certainty  of  aid  at  hand,  a  reaction  of 
feeling  came.  A  singular  caution  seized  him.  What  if 
those  bearing  the  light  were  enemies]  Through  the  glow 
dimly  lighting  the  part  of  the  passage  below  the  stairway, 
he  looked  eagerly  for  a  place  of  concealment.  Actually, 
though  starving,  the  prospect  of  relief  filled  him  with  all 
the  instincts  of  life  renewed.  A  door  caught  his  eye.  He 
ran  to  the  cell,  and  hid,  but  in  position  to  see  whomsoever 
might  pass.  He  had  no  purpose  :  he  would  wait  and  see, 
—  that  was  all. 

The  light  approached  slowly,  —  in  his  suspense,  how 
slowly !  Gradually  the  glow  in  the  passage  became  a  fair 
illumination.  There  were  no  sounds  of  feet,  no  forerun 
ning  echoes ;  the  coming  was  noiseless  as  that  of  spirits. 
Out  of  the  door,  nevertheless,  he  thrust  his  head,  in  time  to 
see  the  figure  of  a  man  on  the  upper  step,  bareheaded,  bare 
footed,  half  wrapped  in  a  cotton  cloak,  and  carrying  a  broad 
wooden  tray  or  waiter,  covered  with  what  seemed  table-ware  ; 
the  whole  brought  boldly  into  view  by  the  glare  of  a  lamp 
fastened,  like  a  miner's,  to  his  forehead. 

The  man  was  alone ;  with  that  observation,  Orteguilla 
drew  back,  and  waited,  his  hand  upon  his  dagger.  Ho 


HOW  THE   HOLY   MOTHER   HELPS   HER  CHILDREN.      389 

trembled  with  excitement.  Here  was  an  instrument  of 
escape ;  what  should  he  do  ]  If  he  exposed  himself  sud 
denly,  might  not  the  stranger  drop  his  burden,  and  run,  and 
in  the  race  extinguish  the  lamp  1  If  he  attacked,  might 
he  not  have  to  kill?  Yet  the  chance  must  not  be  lost. 
Life  depended  upon  it,  and  it  was,  therefore,  precious  as  life. 

The  man  descended  the  steps  carefully,  and  drew  near  the 
cell  door.  Orteguilla  held  his  breath.  The  stepping  of 
bare  feet  became  distinct.  A  gleam  of  light,  almost  blind 
ing,  flashed  through  the  doorway,  and,  narrow  at  first  but 
rapidly  widening,  began  tfr-wheel  across  the  floor.  At  length 
the  cell  filled  with  brightness  ;  the  stranger  was  passing  the 
door,  not  a  yard  away. 

The  young  Spaniard  beheld  an  old  man,  half  naked,  and 
bearing  a  tray.  That  he  was  a  servant  was  clear;  that 
there  was  no  danger  to  be  apprehended  from  him  was  equal 
ly  clear :  he  was  too  old.  These  were  the  observations 
of  a  glance.  From  the  unshorn,  unshaven  head  and  face, 
the  eyes  of  the  lad  dropped  to  the  tray ;  at  the  same  instant, 
the  smell  of  meat,  fresh  from  the  coals,  saluted  him,  mixed 
with  the  aroma  of  chocolate,  still  smoking,  and  sweeter  to 
the  starving  fugitive  than  incense  to  a  devotee.  Another 
note  :  the  servant  was  carrying  a  meal  to  somebody,  his 
master  or  mistress.  Still  another  note  :  the  temple  was  in 
habited,  and  the  inhabitants  were  near  by.  The  impulse  to 
rush  out  and  snatch  the  tray,  and  eat  and  drink,  was  almost 
irresistible.  The  urgency  there  is  in  a  parched  throat,  and 
in  a  stomach  three  days  empty,  cannot  be  imagined.  Yet 
he  restrained  himself. 

The  lamp,  the  food,  the  human  being  —  the  three  things 
most  desirable  —  had  come,  and  were  going,  and  the  page 
still  undetermined  what  to  do.  Instinct  and  hunger  and 
thirst,  and  a  dread  of  the  darkness,  and  of  the  death  so  lately 
imminent,  moved  him  to  follow,  and  he  obeyed.  He  had 


390  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


cunning  enough  left  to  take  off  his  boots.  That  done,  he 
stepped  into  the  passage,  and,  moving  a  few  paces  behind, 
put  himself  in  the  guidance  of  the  servant,  sustained  by  a 
hope  that  daylight  and  liberty  were  but  a  short  way  off. 

For  a  hundred  steps  or  more  the  man  went  his  way,  when 
he  came  to  a  great  flat  rock  or  flag  cumbering  the  passage ; 
there  he  stopped,  and  set  down  the  tray  ;  and  taking  the 
lamp  from  the  fastening  on  his  head,  he  knelt  by  the  side 
of  a  trap,  or  doorway,  in  the  floor.  Orteguilla  stopped  at 
the  same  time,  drawing,  as  a  precaution,  close  to  the  left 
wall.  Immediately  he  heard  the  tinkling  of  a  bell,  which 
he  took  to  be  a  signal  to  some  one  in  a  chamber  below. 
His  eyes  fixed  hungrily  upon  the  savory  viands.  He  saw 
the  slave  fasten  a  rope  to  the  tray,  and  begin  to  lower  it 
through  the  trap  ;  he  heard  the  noise  of  the  contact  with 
the  floor  beneath :  still  he  was  unresolved.  The  man 
arose,  lamp  in  hand,  and  without  more  ado,  as  if  a  familiar 
task  were  finished,  started  in  return.  And  now  the  two 
must  come  within  reach  of  each  other ;  now  the  page  must 
discover  himself  or  be  discovered.  Should  he  remain] 
Was  not  retreat  merely  going  back  into  the  terrible  laby 
rinth  1  He  debated  j  and  while  he  debated,  chance  came 
along  and  took  control.  The  servant,  relieved  of  his  load, 
walked  swiftly,  trying,  while  in  motion,  to  replace  the  lamp 
over  his  forehead ;  failing  in  that,  he  stopped  ;  and  as  for 
tune  ordered,  stopped  within  two  steps  of  the  fugitive.  A 
moment,  —  and  the  old  man's  eyes,  dull  as  they  were,  be 
came  transfixed ;  then  the  lamp  fell  from  his  hand  and 
rolled  upon  the  floor,  and  with  a  scream,  he  darted  forward 
in  a  flight  which  the  object  of  his  fear  could  not  hope  to 
outstrip.  The  lamp  went  out,  and  darkness  dropped  from 
the  ceiling,  and  leaped  from  the  walls,  reclaiming  everything. 

Orteguilla  stood  overwhelmed  by  the  misfortune.  All  the 
former  horrors  returned  to  plague  him.  He  upbraided  him- 


HOW  THE  HOLY   MOTHER   HELPS   HER  CHILDREN.      391 

self  for  irresolution.  Why  allow  the  man  to  escape  ?  Why 
not  seize,  or,  at  least,  speak  to  him  1  The  chance  had  been 
sent,  he  could  now  see,  by  the  Holy  Mother ;  would  she 
send  another1?  If  not,  and  he  died  there,  who  would  be  to 
blame  but  himself]  He  wrung  his  hands,  and  gave  way  to 
bitter  tears. 

Eventually  the  unintermitting  craving  of  hunger  aroused 
him  by  a  lively  suggestion.  The  smell  of  the  meat  and 
chocolate  haunted  him.  What  had  become  of  them  1  Then 
he  remembered  the  ringing  of  the  bell,  and  their  disappear 
ance  through  the  trap.  There  they  were ;  and  more,  — 
somebody  was  there  enjoying  them!  Why  not  have  his 
share  1  Ay,  though  he  fought  for  it !  Should  an  infidel 
feed  while  a  Christian  starved  1  The  thought  lent  him  new 
strength.  Such  could  not  be  God's  will.  Then,  as  often 
happens,  indignation  begat  a  certain  shrewdness  to  discern 
points,  and  put  them  together.  Th,e  temple  Avas  not  vacant, 
as  he  at  first  feared.  Indeed,  its  tenants  were  thereabouts. 
Neither  was  he  alone  ;  on  the  floor  below,  he  had  neighbors. 
"  Ave  Maria !  "  he  cried,  and  crossed  himself. 

His  neighbors,  he  thought,  —  advancing  to  another  conclu 
sion,  —  his  neighbors,  whoever  they  were,  had  communica 
tion  with  the  world ;  otherwise,  they  would  perish,  as  he 
was  perishing.  Moreover,  the  old  servant  was  the  medium 
of  the  communication,  and  would  certainly  come  again. 
Courage,  courage  ! 

A  sense  of  comfort,  derived  from  the  bare  idea  of  neigh 
borship  with  something  human,  for  the  time  at  least,  lulled 
him  into  forgetfulness  of  misery. 

Upon  his  hands  and  knees,  he  went  to  the  great  stone, 
and  to  the  edge  of  the  trap. 

"  Salvado  !  Soy  salvado  !  I  am  saved  !  "  And  with 
tears  of  joy  he  rapturously  repeated  the  sweet  salutation  of 
the  angels  to  the  Virgin.  The  space  below  'ivas  lighted  ! 


392  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


The  light,  as  he  discovered  upon  a  second  look,  came 
through  curtains  stretched  across  a  passage  similar  to  the  one 
he  was  in,  and  was  faint,  but  enough  to  disclose  two  objects, 
the  sight  of  which  touched  him  with  a  fierce  delight,  —  the 
tray  on  the  floor,  its  contents  untouched,  and  a  rope  ladder 
by  which  to  descend. 

He  lost  no  time  now.  Placing  his  dagger  between  his 
teeth,  he  swung  off,  though  with  some  trouble,  and  landed 
safely.  At  his  feet,*then,  lay  a  repast  to  satisfy  the  daintiest 
appetite,  —  fish,  white  bread,  chocolate,  in  silver  cups  and 
beaten  into  honeyed  foam,  and  fruits  from  vine  and  tree. 
He  clasped  his  hands  and  looked  to  Heaven,  and,  as  became 
a  pious  Spaniard,  restrained  the  maladies  that  afflicted  him, 
while  he  said  the  old  Paternoster,  —  dear,  hallowed  utterance 
taught  him  in  childhood  by  the  mother  who,  but  for  this 
godsend,  would  have  lost  him  forever.  Then  he  stooped  to 
help  himself,  and  while  his  hand  was  upon  the  bread  the 
curtain  parted,  and  he  saw,  amidst  a  flood  of  light  pouring 
in  over  her  head  and  shoulders,  a  girl,  very  young  and  very 
beautiful. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  PABA'S  ANGEL. 

IF  I  were  writing  a  tale  less  true,  or  were  at  all  accom 
plished  in  the  charming  art  of  the  story-teller,  which  has 
come  to  be  regarded  as  but  little  inferior  to  that  of  the  poet, 
possibly  I  could  have  disguised  the  incidents  of  the  preced 
ing  chapters  so  as  to  have  checked  anticipation.  But  many 
pages  back  the  reader  no  doubt  discovered  that  the  Cu  in 
which  the  page  took  shelter  was  that  of  Quetzal' ;  and  now, 
while  to  believe  I  could,  by  any  arrangement  or  conceit  con- 


THE  PABA'S   ANGEL.  393 

sistent  with  truth,  agreeably  surprise  a  friend,  I  must  admit 
that  he  is  a  dull  witling  who  failed,  at  the  parting  of  the 
curtain  as  above  given,  to  recognize  the  child  of  the  paba,  — 
Tecetl,  to  whom,  beyond  peradventure,  the  memory  of  all  who 
follow  me  to  this  point  has  often  returned,  in  tender 
sympathy  for  the  victim  of  an  insanity  so  strange  or  —  as 
the  critic  must  decide  —  a  philosophy  so  cruel. 

Now,  however,  she  glides  again  into  the  current  of  my 
story,  one  of  those  wingless  waifs  which  we  have  all  at  one 
time  or  another  seen,  and  which,  if  not  from  heaven,  as 
their  purity  and  beauty  suggest,  are,  at  least,  ready  to  be 
wafted  there. 

I  stop  to  say  that,  during  the  months  past,  as  before, 
her  life  had  gone  sweetly,  pleasantly,  without  ruffle  or 
labor  or  care  or  sickness,  or  division,  even,  into  hours  and 
days  and  nights,  —  a  flowing  onward,  like  time,  —  an  exist 
ence  so  serenely  perfect  as  not  to  be  a  subject  of  conscious 
ness.  Her  occupation  was  a  round  of  gentle  ministrations  to 
the  paba.  Her  experience  was  still  limited  to  the  chamber, 
its  contents  and  expositions.  If  the  philosophy  of  the  vener 
able  mystic — that  ignorance  of  humanity  is  happiness — was 
correct,  then  was  she  happy  as  mortal  can  be,  for  as  yet  she 
had  not  seen  a  human  being  other  than  himself.  Her  pleas 
ure  was  still  to  chatter  and  chirrup  with  the  friendly  birds  ;  or 
to  gather  flowers  and  fashion  them  into  wreaths  and  garlands 
to  be  offered  at  the  altar  of  the  god  to  whom  she  herself  had 
been  so  relentlessly  devoted ;  or  to  lie  at  rest  upon  the  couch, 
and  listen  to  the  tinkling  voices  of  the  fountain,  or  join  in 
their  melody.  And  as  I  do  not  know  why,  in  speaking  of 
her  life,  I  should  be  silent  as  to  that  part  which  is  lost  in 
slumber,  particularly  when  the  allusion  will  help  me  illus 
trate  her  matchless  innocency  of  nature,  I  will  say,  fur 
ther,  that  sleep  came  to  her  as  to  children,  irregularly  and 
in  the  midst  of  play,  and  waking  was  followed  by  no  in- 
17  • 


394  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


terval  of  heaviness,  or  brooding  over  a  daily  task,  or  bracing 
the  soul  for  a  duty.  In  fact,  she  was  still  a  child  ;  though  not 
to  be  thought  dealing  with  anything  seraphic,  I  will  add,  that 
in  the  months  past  she  had  in  height  become  quite  womanly, 
while  the  tone  of  her  voice  had  gained  an  equality,  and  her 
figure  a  fulness,  indicative  of  quick  maturity. 

Nor  had  the  "  World  "  undergone  any  change.  The  uni 
versal  exposition  on  the  walls  and  ceiling  remained  the 
same  surpassing  marvel  of  art.  At  stated  periods,  work 
men  had  come,  and,  through  the  shaft  constructed  for  the 
purpose,  like  those  in  deep  mines,  lifted  to  the  azoteas  such 
plants  and  shrubs  as  showed  signs  of  suffering  for  the  indis 
pensable  sun ;  but  as,  on  such  occasions,  others  were  let  down, 
and  rolled  to  the  vacant  places,  there  was  never  an  abatement 
of  the  garden  freshness  that  prevailed  in  the  chamber.  The 
noise  of  the  work  disturbed  the  birds,  but  never  Tecetl, 
whose  spirit  during  the  time  was  under  the  mesmeric  Will 
of  the  paba. 

There  was  a  particular,  however,  in  which  the  god  who 
was  supposed  to  have  the  house  in  keeping  had  not  been  so 
gracious.  A  few  days  before  the  page  appeared  at  the  door, 
—  exactness  requires  me  to  say  the  day  of  the  paba's  last 
interview  with  Guatamozin,  —  Mualox  came  down  from  the 
sanctuary  in  an  unusual  state  of  mind  and  body.  He  was 
silent  and  exhausted  •  his  knees  tottered,  as,  with  never  a 
smile  or  pleasant  word,  or  kiss  in  reply  to  the  salutation  he 
received,  he  went  to  the  couch  to  lie  down.  He  seemed  like 
one  asleep ;  yet  he  did  not  sleep,  but  lay  with  his  eyes 
fixed  vacantly  on  the  ceiling,  his  hand  idly  stroking  his 
beard. 

In  vain  Tecetl  plied  all  her  little  arts ;  she  sang  to  him, 
caressed  him,  brought  her  vases  and  choicest  flowers  and 
sweetest  singing-birds,  and  asked  a  thousand  questions  about 
the  fair,  good  Quetzal',  —  a  topic  theretofore  of  never-failing 
interest  to  the  holy  ir.au. 


THE  PABA'S   ANGEL.  395 

She  had  never  known  sickness,  —  so  kindly  had  the  god 
dealt  by  her.  Her  acquaintance  with  infirmity  of  any 
kind  was  limited  to  the  fatigue  of  play,  and  the  weariness 
of  tending  flowers  and  birds.  Her  saddest  experience  had 
been  to  see  the  latter  sicken  and  die.  All  her  further 
knowledge  of  death  was  when  it  came  and  touched  a  plant, 
withering  leaf  and  bud.  To  die  was  the  end  of  such  things  ; 
but  they  —  the  paba  and  herself  —  were  not  as  such  :  they 
were  above  death ;  Quetzal'  was  immortal,  and,  happy  souls  ! 
they  were  to  serve  him  for  ever  and  ever.  Possessed  of  such 
faith,  she  was  not  alarmed  by  the  good  man's  condition ;  on 
the  contrary,  taking  his  silence  as  a  wish  to  be  let  alone,  she 
turned  and  sought  her  amusements. 

And  as  to  liis  ailment.  If  there  be  such  a  thing  as  a  bro 
ken  heart,  his  was  broken.  He  had  lived,  as  noticed  before, 
for  a  single  purpose,  hope  of  which  had  kept  him  alive,  sur 
vivor  of  a  mighty  brotherhood.  That  hope  the  'tzin  in  the 
last  interview  took  away  Avith  him  ;  and  an  old  man  without 
a  hope  is  already  dead. 

Measuring  time  in  the  chamber  by  its  upper- world  divisions, 
noon  and  night  came,  and  still  the  paba  lay  in  the  dismal 
coma.  Twice  the  slave  had  appeared  at  the  door  with  the 
customary  meals.  Tecetl  heard  and  answered  his  signals. 
Meantime,  —  last  and  heaviest  of  misfortunes,  —  the  fire 
of  the  temple  went  out.  When  the  sacred  flame  was  first 
kindled  is  not  known  ;  relighted  at  the  end  of  the  last 
great  cycle  of  fifty-two  years,  however,  it  had  burned  ever 
since,  served  by  the  paba.  Year  after  year  his  steps,  ascend 
ing  and  descending,  had  grown  feebler  ;  now  they  utterly 
failed.  "  Where  is  the  fire  on  the  old  Cu  1 "  asked  the  night- 
watchers  of  each  other.  "  Dead,"  was  the  answer.  "  Then 
is  Mualox  dead." 

And  still  another  day  like  the  other  ;  and  at  its  close  the 
faded  hands  of  the  sufferer  dropped  upon  his  breast.  Many 


396  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


times  did  Tecetl  come  to  the  couch,  and  speak  to  him,  and 
call  him  father,  and  offer  him  food  and  drink,  and  go  away 
unnoticed.  "  He  is  with  Quetzal',"  she  would  say  to  herself 
and  the  birds.  "  How  the  dear  god  loves  him  !  " 

Yet  another,  the  fourth  day ;  still  the  sleep,  now  become 
a  likeness  of  death.  And  Tecetl,  —  she  missed  his  voice, 
and  the  love-look  of  his  great  eyes,  and  his  fondnesses  of 
touch  and  sinile ;  she  missed  his  presence,  also.  True,  he 
was  there,  but  not  with  her ;  he  was  with  Quetzal'.  Strange 
that  they  should  forget  her  so  long !  She  hovered  around 
the  couch,  a  little  jealous  of  the  god,  and  disquieted,  though 
she  knew  not  by  what.  She  was  very,  very  lonesome. 

And  in  that  time  what  suspense  would  one  familiar  with 
perils  have  suffered  in  her  situation  !  If  the  paba  dies, 
what  will  become  of  her  ?  We  know  somewhat  of  the  dif 
ficulties  of  the  passages  in  the  Cu.  Can  she  find  the  way 
out  alone  1  The  slave  will,  doubtless,  continue  to  bring  food 
to  the  door,  so  that  she  may  not  starve  ;  and  at  the  fountain 
she  will  get  drink.  Suppose,  therefore,  the  supplies  come 
for  years,  and  she  live  so  long ;  how  will  the  solitude  affect 
her?  We  know  its  results  upon  prisoners  accustomed  to 
society ;  but  that  is  not  her  case  :  she  never  knew  society, 
its  sweets  or  sorrows.  With  her  the  human  life  of  the  great 
outside  world  is  not  a  thing  of  conjecture,  or  of  dreams, 
hopes,  and  fears,  as  the  future  life  with  a  Christian ; 
she  does  not  even  know  there  is  such  a  state  of  being. 
Changes  will  take  place  in  the  chamber;  the  birds  and 
plants,  all  of  life  there  besides  herself,  will  die ;  the  body 
of  the  good  man,  through  sickening  stages  of  decay,  will  re 
turn  to  the  dust,  leaving  a  ghastly  skeleton  on  the  couch. 
Consequently,  hers  will  come  to  be  a  solitude  without  relief, 
without  amusement  or  occupation  or  society,  and  with  but 
few  memories,  and  nothing  to  rest  a  hope  upon.  Can  a 
mind  support  itself,  any  more  than  a  body  1  In  other  words, 


THE  PABA'S  ANGEL.  397 

if  Mualox  dies,  how  long  until  she  becomes  what  it  were 
charity  to  kill  1  Ah,  never  mortal  more  dependent  or  more 
terribly  threatened !  Yet  she  saw  neither  the  cloud  nor 
its  shadow,  but  followed  her  pastimes  as  usual,  and  sang  her 
little  songs,  and  slept  when  tired,  —  a  simple-hearted  ciiild. 

I  am  not  an  abstractionist ;  and  the  reader,  whom  I  char 
itably  take  to  be  what  I  am  in  that  respect,  has  reason  to  be 
thankful ;  for  the  thought  of  this  girl,  so  strangely  educated, 
—  if  the  word  may  be  so  applied,  —  this  pretty  plaything 
of  a  fortune  so  eccentric,  opens  the  gates  of  many  a  misty 
field  of  metaphysics.  But  I  pass  them  by,  and,  following 
the  lead  of  my  story,  proceed  to  say  that,  in  the  evening  of 
the  fourth  day  of  the  paba's  sickness,  the  bell,  as  usual,  an 
nounced  the  last  meal  at  the  door  of  the  chamber.  Tecetl 
went  to  the  couch,  and,  putting  her  arms  around  the  sleeper's 
neck,  tried  to  wake  him  ;  but  he  lay  still,  his  eyes  closed, 
his  lips  apart,  —  in  appearance,  he  was  dying. 

"  Father,  father,  why  do  you  stay  away  so  long  ? "  she 
said.  "  Come  back,  —  speak  to  me,  —  say  one  word,  —  call 
me  once  more  ! " 

The  dull  ear  heard  not ;  the  hand  used  to  caressing 
was  still. 

Tenderly  she  smoothed  the  white  beard  upon  his  breast. 

"  Is  Quetzal'  angry  with  me  ?  I  love  him.  Tell  him  how 
lonely  I  am,  and  that  the  birds  are  not  enough  to  keep  me 
happy  when  you  stay  so  long ;  tell  him  how  dear  you  are 
to  me.  Ask  him  to  let  you  come  back  now." 

Yet  no  answer. 

"  0  Quetzal',  fair,  beautiful  god !  hear  me,"  she  con 
tinued.  "  Your  finger  is  on  his  lips,  or  he  would  speak. 
Yoiir  veil  is  over  his  eyes,  or  he  would  see  me.  I  am  his 
child,  and  love  him  so  much ;  and  he  is  hungry,  and  here 
are  bread  and  meat.  Let  him  come  for  a  little  while,  and  I 
will  love  you  more  than  ever." 


398  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


And  so  she  prayed  and  promised,  but  in  vain.  Quetzal' 
was  obdurate.  "With  tears  fast  flowing,  she  arose,  and  stood 
by  the  couch,  and  gazed  upon  the  face  now  sadly  changed 
by  the  long  abstinence.  And  as  she  looked,  there  came  upon 
her  own  face  a  new  expression,  that  which  the  very  young 
always  have  when  at  the  side  of  the  dying,  —  half  dread, 
half  curiosity,  —  wonder  at  the  manifestation,  awe  of  the 
power  that  invokes  it,  —  the  look  we  can  imagine  on  the 
countenance  of  a  simple  soul  in  the  presence  of  Death  in 
terpreting  himself. 

At  last  she  turned  away,  and  went  to  the  door.  Twice 
she  hesitated,  and  looked  back.  Wherefore  1  Was  she  pon 
dering  the  mystery  of  the  deep  sleep,  or  expecting  the 
sleeper  to  awake,  or  listening  to  the  whisper  of  a  premo 
nition  fainter  in  her  ears  than  the  voice  of  the  faintest 
breeze  ?  She  went  on,  nevertheless  ;  she  reached  the  door, 
and  drew  the  curtain ;  and  thero,  in  the  full  light,  was 
Orteguilla. 

That  we  may  judge  the  impression,  let  us  recall  what  kind 
of  youth  the  page  was.  I  never  saw  him  myself,  but  those 
who  knew  him  well  have  told  me  he  was  a  handsome  fel 
low  ;  tall,  graceful,  and  in  manner  and  feature  essentially 
Spanish.  He  wore  at  the  time  the  bonnet  and  jaunty 
feather,  and  the  purple  mantle,  of  which  I  have  spoken,  and 
under  that  a  close  black  jerkin,  with  hose  to  correspond ;  half- 
boots,  usual  to  the  period,  and  a  crimson  sash  about  the 
waist,  its  fringed  ends  hanging  down  the  left  side,  completed 
his  attire.  Altogether,  a  goodly  young  man ;  not  as  gay, 
probably,  as  some  then  loitering  amongst  the  alamedas  of 
Seville ;  for  rough  service  long  continued  had  tarnished  his 
finery  and  abused  his  complexion,  to  say  nothing  of  the  im 
prints  of  present  suffering ;  yet  he  was  enough  so  to  excite 
admiration  in  eyes  older  than  Tecetl's,  and  more  familial 
with  the  race. 


THE  PABA'S  ANGEL.  399 

The  two  gazed  at  each  other,  wonder-struck. 

"  Holy  Mother  !  "  exclaimed  Orteguilla,  the  bread  in  his 
hand.  "  Into  what  world  have  I  been  brought  1  Is  this  a 
spirit  thou  hast  sent  me  ?  " 

In  his  eyes,  she  was  an  angel ;  in  hers,  he  was  more.  Sho 
went  to  him,  and  knelt,  and  said,  "  Quetzal',  dear  Quetzal', 
—  beautiful  god  !  You  are  come  to  bring  my  father  back  to 
me.  He  is  asleep  by  the  fountain." 

In  her  eyes,  the  page  was  a  god. 

The  paba's  descriptions  of  Quetzal'  had  given  her  the  ideal 
of  a  youth  like  Orteguilla.  Of  late,  moreover,  he  had  been 
constantly  expected  from  Tlapallan,  his  isle  of  the  blest ; 
indeed,  he  had  come,  —  so  the  father  said.  And  the  house 
was  his.  Whither  would  he  go,  if  not  there  ?  So,  from 
tradition  oft  repeated,  from  descriptions  colored  by  passionate 
love,  she  knew  the  god  ;  and  as  to  the  man,  —  between  the 
image  and  his  maker  there  is  a  likeness ;  so  saith  a  book 
holier  than  the  teoamoxtli. 

The  page,  as  we  have  seen,  was  witty  and  shrewd,  and 
acquainted  well  with  the  world;  his  first  impression  went 
quickly  ;  her  voice  assured  him  that  he  was  not  come  to  any 
spirit  land.  The  pangs  of  hunger,  for  the  moment  forgotten, 
returned,  and  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  he  at  once  yielded  to 
their  urgency,  and  began  to  eat  as  heroes  in  romances  never 
do.  When  the  edge  of  his  appetite  was  dulled,  and  he  could 
think  of  something  else,  an  impulse  of  courtesy  moved  hfm; 
and  he  said,  — 

"  I  crave  thy  pardon,  fair  mistress.  I  have  been  so  much 
an  animal  as  to  forget  that  this  food  is  thine,  and  required 
to  subsist  thee,  and,  perhaps,  some  other  inhabiting  here. 
I  admit,  moreover,  that  ordinarily  the  invitation  should 
proceed  from  the  owner  of  the  feast ;  but  claim  thy  own, 
and  partake  with  me ;  else  it  may  befall  that  in  my  great 
hunger  thy  share  will  be  wanting.  Fall  to,  I  pray  thee." 


400  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


Still  kneeling,  she  stared  at  him,  and,  folding  her  hands 
upon  her  breast,  replied,  "  Quetzal'  knows  that  I  am  his  ser 
vant.  Let  him  speak  so  that  I  may  understand." 

"  Por  cierto  !  —  it  is  true  !  What  knoweth  she  of  my 
mother  tongue  ? " 

And  thereupon,  in  the  Aztecan,  he  asked  her  to  help  herself. 

"  No,"  said  she.  "  The  house  and  all  belong  to  you.  I 
am  glad  you  have  come." 

"  Mine  1     Whom  do  you  take  me  for  1 " 

"  The  good  god  of  my  father,  to  whom  I  say  all  my 
prayers,  —  Quetzal'  !  " 

"  Quetzal',  Quetzal' !  "  he  repeated,  looking  steadily  in  her 
face  ;  then,  as  if  assured  that  he  understood  her,  he  took  one 
of  the  goblets  of  chocolate,  and  tried  to  drink,  but  failed  ; 
the  liquid  had  been  beaten  into  foam. 

"  In  the  world  I  come  from,  good  girl,"  he  said,  replacing 
the  cup,  "  people  find  need  of  water,  which,  just  now,  would 
be  sweeter  to  my  tongue  than  all  the  honey  in  the  valley. 
Canst  thou  give  me  a  drink  1 " 

She  arose,  and  answered  eagerly,  "  Yes,  at  the  fountain. 
Let  us  go.  By  this  time  my  father  is  awake." 

"  So,  so  !  "  he  said  to  himself.  "  Her  father,  indeed  !  I 
have  eaten  his  supper  or  dinner,  according  to  the  time  of 
day  outside,  and  he  may  not  be  as  civil  as  his  daughter.  I 
will  first  know  something  about  him."  And  he  asked, 
"  Your  father  is  old,  is  he  not  ? " 

"  His  beard  and  hair  are  very  white.  They  have  always 
been  so." 

Again  he  looked  at  her  doubtingly.    "  Always,  said  you  1 " 

"  Always." 

"  Is  he  a  priest  ? " 

She  smiled,  and  asked,  "  Does  not  Quetzal'  know  his  own 
servant  1 " 

"  Has  he  company  1 " 


THE  PABA'S  ANGEL.  401 

"The  birds  may  be  with  him." 

He  quit  eating,  and,  much  puzzled  by  the  answer,  re 
flected. 

"  Birds,  birds  !  Am  I  so  near  daylight  and  freedom  1  Grant 
it,  0  Blessed  Mother  !  "  And  he  crossed  himself  devoutly. 

Then  Tecetl  said,  earnestly,  "  Now  that  you  have  eaten, 
good  Quetzal',  come  and  let  us  go  to  my  father." 

Orteguilla  made  up  his  mind  speedily:  he  could  not  do 
worse  than  go  back  the  way  he  came  ;  and  the  light  here 
was  so  beautiful,  and  the  darkness  there  so  terrible  :  and 
here  was  company.  Just  then,  also,  as  a  further  inducement, 
he  heard  the  whistle  of  a  bird,  and  fancied  he  distinguished 
the  smell  of  flowers. 

"  A  garden,"  he  said,  in  his  soul,  —  "  a  garden,  and  birds, 
and  liberty  !  "  The  welcome  thought  thrilled  him  inexpres 
sibly.  "  Yes,  I  will  go  "  ;  and,  aloud,  "  I  am  ready." 

Thereupon  she  took  his  hand,  and  put  the  curtains  aside, 
and  led  him  into  the  paba's  World,  never  but  once  before 
seen  by  a  stranger. 

This  time  forethought  had  not  gone  in  advance  to  prepare 
for  the  visitor.  The  master's  eye  was  dim,  and  his  careful 
hand  still,  in  the  sleep  by  the  fountain.  The  neglect  that 
darkened  the  fire  on  the  turret  was  gloaming  the  lamps  in 
the  chamber ;  one  by  one  they  had  gone  out,  as  all  would 
have  gone  but  for  Tecetl,  to  whom  the  darkness  and  the 
shadows  were  hated  enemies.  Nevertheless,  the  light,  fall 
ing  suddenly  upon  eyes  so  long  filled  with  blackness  as 
his  had  been,  was  blinding  bright,  insomuch  that  he  clapped 
his  hand  over  his  face.  Yet  she  led  him  on  eagerly, 
saying,  — 

"  Here,  here,  good  Quetzal'.  Here  by  the  fountain  he 
lies." 

All  her  concern  was  for  the  paba. 

And  through  the  many  pillars  of  stone,  and  along  a  walk 


402  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


bounded  by  shrubs  and  all  manner  of  dAvarfed  tropical 
half  blinded  by  the  light,  but  with  the  scent  of  flowers  and 
living  vegetation  in  his  nostrils,  and  the  carol  of  birds  in  hi« 
ears,  and  full  of  wonder  unspeakable,  he  was  taken,  without 
pause,  to  the  fountain.  At  sight  of  the  sparkling  jet,  his 
fever  of  thirst  raged  more  intensely  than  ever. 

"  Here  he  is.  Speak  to  him,  —  call  him  back  to  me  !  As 
you  love  him,  call  him  back,  0  Quetzal'  1 " 

He  scarcely  heard  her. 

"  Water,  water  !  Blessed  Mother,  I  see  it  again  !  A  cup, 
—  quick,  —  a  cup  ! " 

He  seized  one  on  the  table,  and  drank,  and  drank  again,, 
crying  between  each  breath,  "  To  the  Mother  the  praise  !  " 
Not  until  he  was  fully  satisfied  did  he  give  ear  to  the  girl's 
entreaty. 

Looking  to  the  couch,  whither  she  had  gone,  he  saw  the 
figure  of  the  paba  stretched  out  like  a  corpse.  He  approached, 
and,  searching  the  face,  and  laying  his  hand  upon  the  breast 
over  the  heart,  asked,  in  a  low  voice,  "  How  long  has  your 
father  been  asleep  1 " 

"  A  long  time,"  she  replied. 

"  Jesu  Christo  !  He  is  dead,  and  she  does  not  know  it !  " 
he  thought,  amazed  at  her  simplicity. 

Again  he  regarded  he'r  closely,  and  for  the  first  time  was 
struck  by  her  beauty  of  face  and  form,  by  the  brightness  of 
her  eyes,  by  the  hair,  wavy  on  the  head  and  curling  over 
the  shoulders,  by  the  simple,  childish  dress,  and  sweet  voice ; 
above  all,  by  the  innocence  and  ineffable  purity  of  her  look 
and  manner,  all  then  discernible  in  the  full  glare  of  the 
lamps.  And  with  what  feeling  he  made  discovery  of  her 
loveliness  may  be  judged  passably  well  by  the  softened  tone 
in  which  he  said,  "Poor  girU  your  faf-b^r  will  never,  never 
wake." 

Her  eyes  opened  wide. 


THE  PABA'S  ANGEL.  403 

"  Never,  never  wake  !     Why  1 " 

"  He  is  dead." 

She  looked  at  him  wistfully,  and  he,  seeing  that  she  did 
not  understand,  added,  "  He  is  in  heaven  ;  or,  as  he  him 
self  would  have  said,  in  the  Sun." 

"  Yes,  but  you  will  let  him  come  back." 

He  took  note  of  the  trustful,  beseeching  look  with  which 
she  accompanied  the  words,  and  shook  his  head,  and,  return 
ing  to  the  fountain,  took  a  seat  upon  a  bench,  reflecting. 

"  What  kind  of  girl  is  this  1  Not  know  death  when  he 
showeth  so  plainly  !  Where  hath  she  been  living  ?  And  I 
am  possessed  of  St.  Peter's  keys.  I  open  Heaven's  gate  to 
let  the  heathen  out !  By  the  bones  of  the  saints  !  let  him  get 
there  first !  The  Devil  hath  him  !  " 

He  picked  up  a  withered  flower  lying  by  the  bowl  of  the 
fountain,  and  went  back  to  Tecetl. 

"  You  remember  how  beautiful  this  was  when  taken  from 
the  vine  1 " 

"  Yes." 

"  What  ails  it  now  ?" 

"  It  is  dead." 

"  Well,  did  you  ever  know  one  of  these,  after  dying,  to 
come  back  to  life  1 " 

"No." 

"  No  more  can  thy  father  regain  his  life.  He,  too,  is 
dead.  From  what  you  see,  he  will  go  to  dust ;  therefore, 
leave  him  now,  and  let  us  sit  by  the  fountain,  and  talk  of 
escape ;  for  surely  you  know  the  way  out  of  this." 

From  the  flower,  she  looked  to  the  dead,  and,  comprehend 
ing  the  illustration,  sat  by  the  body,  and  cried.  And  so  it 
happened  that  knowledge  of  death  was  her  first  lesson  in  life. 

And  he  respected  her  grief,  and  went  and  took  a  "bench  by 
the  basin,  and  thought. 

"  Quetzal',  Quetzal', —  who  is  he  1     A  god,  no  doubt ;  yes, 


4:04  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


the  one  of  whom  the  king  so  liveth  in  dread.  I  have  heard 
his  name.  And  I  am  Quetzal' !  And  this  is  his  house  — 
that  is,  my  house  !  A  scurvy  trick,  by  St.  James  !  Lost  in 
my  own  house,  —  a  god  lost  in  his  own  temple !  " 

And  as  he  could  then  well  afford,  being  full-fed,  he 
laughed  at  the  absurd  idea ;  and  in  such  mood,  fell  into  a 
revery,  and  grew  drowsy,  and  finally  composed  himself  on 
the  bench,  and  sunk  to  sleep. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

LIFE    IN    THE    PABA's   WORLD. 

~T~TT"HEN  the  page  awoke,  after  a  long,  refreshing  sleep, 
VV  he  saw  the  fountain  first,  and  Tecetl  next.  She 
was  sitting  a  little  way  off,  upon  a  mat  stretched  on  the 
floor.  A  number  of  birds  were  about  her,  whistling  and 
coquetting  with  each  other.  One  or  two  of  very  beautiful 
plumage  balanced  themselves  on  the  edge  of  the  basin,  and 
bathed  their  wings  in  the  crystal  water.  Through  half-shut 
eyes,  he  studied  her.  She  was  quiet,  —  thinking  of  what  ? 
Of  what  do  children  think  in  their  waking  dreams'?  Yet  he 
might  have  known,  from  her  pensive  look  and  frequent 
sighs,  that  the  fountain  was  singing  to  deaf  ears,  and  the 
birds  playing  their  tricks  before  sightless  eyes.  She  was 
most  probably  thinking  of  what  he  had  so  lately  taught 
her,  and  nursed  the  great  mystery  as  something  past  finding 
out ;  many  a  wiser  head  has  done  the  same  thing. 

Now,  Orteguilla  was  very  sensible  of  her  loveliness ;  he 
was  no  less  sensible,  also,  that  she  was  a  mystery  out  of  the 
common  way  of  life ;  and  had  he  been  in  a  place  of  safety, 
in  the  palace  of  Axaya',  he  would  have  stayed  a  long  time, 


LIFE  IN  THE  PABA'S  WORLD.  405 

pretending  sleep,  in  order  to  study  her  unobserved.  But 
his  situation  presently  rose  to  mind ;  the  yellow  glow  of 
the  lamps  suggested  the  day  outside;  the  birds,  liberty; 
the  fountain  and  shrubbery,  the  world  he  had  lost;  and 
the  girl,  life,  —  his  life,  and  all  its  innumerable  strong  at 
tachments.  And  so,  in  his  mind,  he  ran  over  his  adven 
tures  in  the  house.  He  surveyed  all  of  the  chamber  that 
was  visible  from  the  bench.  The  light,  the  fountain,  the 
vegetation,  the  decorated  walls,  —  everything  in  view  de 
pendent  upon  the  care  of  man.  Where  so  much  was  to  be 
done  constantly,  was  there  not  something  to  be  done  at 
once,  —  something  to  save  life  ?  There  were  the  lamps  : 
how  were  they  supplied  1  They  might  go  out.  And,  Jesu 
Christo .'  the  corpse  of  the  paba  !  He  sat  up,  as  if  touched 
by  a  spear  :  there  it  was,  in  all  the  repulsiveness  of  death. 

The  movement  attracted  the  girl's  attention;  she  arose, 
and  waited  for  him  to  speak. 

"  Good  morning,  —  if  morning  it  be,"  he  said. 

She  made  no  reply. 

"  Come  here,"  he  continued.  "  I  have  some  questions  to 
ask." 

She  drew  a  few  steps  nearer.  A  bird  with  breast  of 
purple  and  wings  of  snow  flew  around  her  for  a  while, 
then  settled  upon  her  hand,  and  was  drawn  close  to  her 
bosom.  He  remembered,  from  Father  Bartolome's  reading, 
how  the  love  of  God  once  before  took  a  bird's  form ;  and 
forthwith  his  piety  and  superstition  hedged  her  about  with 
sanctity.  What  with  the  white  wings  upon  her  breast,  and 
the  whiter  innocency  within,  she  was  safe  as  if  bound  by 
walls  of  brass. 

"  Have  no  fear,  I  pray  you,"  he  .said,  misinterpreting  her 
respectful  sentiment.  "  You  and  I  are  two  people  in  a  diffi 
cult  strait,  and,  if  I  mistake  not,  much  dependent  upon 
each  other.  A  God,  of  whom  you  never  heard,  but  whom 


4:06  THE   FAIR  GOD 


I  will  tell  you  all  about,  took  your  father  away,  and  sent 
me  in  his  stead.  The  road  thither,  I  confess,  has  been  toil 
some  and  dreadful  Ah  me,  I  shudder  at  the  thought ! 

He  emphasized  his  feelings  by  a  true  Spanish  shrug  of  the 
shoulders. 

"  This  is  a  strange  place,"  he  next  said.  "  How  long  have 
you  been  here  1 " 

"  I  cannot  say." 

"  Can  you  remember  coming,  and  who  brought  you  1 " 

11  No." 

"  You  must  have  been  a  baby."  He  looked  at  her  wif-t> 
pity.  "  Have  you  never  been  elsewhere  " 

"No,  never." 

"  Ah,  by  the  Mother  that  keeps  me  !  Always  here  !  And 
the  sky,  and  sun,  and  stars,  and  all  God's  glory  of  nature, 
seen  in  the  valleys,  mountains,  and  rivers,  and  seas,  —  have 
they  been  denied  you,  poor  girl  1 

"  I  have  seen  them  all,"  she  answered. 

"  Where  1 " 

"  On  the  ceiling  and  walls." 

He  looked  up  at  the  former,  and  noticed  its  excellence  of 
representation. 

"  Very  good,  —  beautiful ! "  he  said,  in  the  way  of  crit 
icism.  "  Who  did  the  work  ? " 

"  Quetzal'." 

"  And  who  is  Quetzal'  1 " 

"  Who  should  know  better  than  the  god  himself  ? " 

"  Me  1 " 

"  Yes." 

Again  he  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  My  name,  then,  is  Quetzal'.     Now,  what  is  yours  1 " 

"  TecetL" 

"Well,  then,  Tecetl,  let  me  undeceive  you.  In  the  first 
place,  I  am  not  Quetzal',  or  any  god.  I  am  a  man,  as  your 


LIFE  IN  THE  PABA'S  WORLD.  407 

father  there  was.  My  name  is  Orteguilla  ;  and  for  the  time 
I  am  page  to  the  great  king  Montezuma.  And  before  long, 
if  I  live,  and  get  out  of  this  place,  as  I  most  devoutly  pray, 
I  will  "be  a  soldier.  In  the  next  place  you  are  a  girl,  and 
soon  will  be  a  woman.  You  have  been  cheated  of  life.  By 
God's  help,  I  will  take  you  out  of  this.  Do  you  understand 
me  1 " 

"  No  ;  unless  men  and  gods  are  the  same." 

"  Heaven  forbid !"  He  crossed  himself  fervently.  "Do 
you  not  know  what  men  are  1 " 

"  All  my  knowledge  of  things  is  from  the  pictures  on  the 
walls,  and  what  else  you  see  here." 

"  Jesu  Christo  !  "  he  cried,  in  open  astonishment.  "  And 
did  the  good  man  never  tell  you  of  the  world  outside,  —  of 
its  creation,  and  its  millions  upon  millions  of  people  1 " 

"  No." 

"  Of  the  world  in  which  you  may  find  the  originals 
"if  all  that  is  painted  on  the  walls,  more  beautiful  than 
colors  can  make  them  1 " 

He  received  the  same  reply,  but,  still  incredulous,  went  on. 

"  Who  takes  care  of  these  plants  1 " 

"My  father." 

"A  servant  brings  your  food  to  the  door  —  may  he  do 
so  again  !  Have  you  not  seen  him  1 " 

"  No." 

"  Where  does  the  oil  that  feeds  the  lamps  come  from  ]  " 

"  From  Quetzal'." 

Just  then  a  lamp  went  out.  He  arose  hastily,  and  saAv 
that  the  contents  of  the  cup  were  entirely  consumed. 
u  Tecetl,  is  there  plenty  of  oil  1  Where  do  you  keep  it  1 
Tell  me." 

"  In  a  jar,  there  by  the  door.  While  you  were  asleep,  I 
refilled  the  cups,  and  now  the  jar  is  empty." 

He  turned  pale.     Who  better  than  he  knew  the  value  of 


408  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


the  liquid  that  saved  them  from  the  darkness  so  horribly 
peopled  by  hunger  and  thirst  1  If  exhausted,  where  could 
they  get  more  ]  Without  further  question,  he  went  through 
the  chamber,  and  collected  the  lamps,  and  put  them  all  out 
except  one.  Then  he  brought  the  jar  from  the  door,  and 
poured  the  oil  back,  losing  not  a  drop. 

Tecetl  remonstrated,  and  cried  when  she  saw  the  darkness* 
invade  the  chamber,  blotting  out  the  walls,  and  driving  the 
birds  to  their  perches,  or  to  the  fountain  yet  faintly  illumi 
nated.  But  he  was  firm. 

"  Fie,  fie  ! "  he  said.  "  You  should  laugh,  not  cry.  Did  I 
not  tell  you  about  the  world  above  this,  so  great,  and  so  full 
of  people,  like  ourselves  1  And  did  I  not  promise  to  take 
you  there  ]  I  am  come  in  your  father's  stead.  Everything 
must  contribute  to  our  escape.  We  must  think  of  nothing 
else.  Do  you  understand?  This  chamber  is  but  one  of 
many,  in  a  house  big  as  a  mountain,  and  full  of  passages  in 
which,  if  we  get  lost,  we  might  wander  days  and  days,  and 
then  not  get  out,  unless  we  had  a  light  to  show  us  the  way. 
So  we  must  save  the  oil.  When  this  supply  gives  out,  as  it 
soon  will  if  we  are  not  careful,  the  darkness  that  so  fright 
ens  you  will  come  and  swallow  us,  and  we  shall  die,  as  did 
your  father  there." 

The  last  suggestion  sufficed ;  she  dried  her  tears,  and  drew 
closer  to  him,  as  if  to  say,  "  I  confide  in  you ;  save  me." 

Nature  teaches  fear  of  death ;  so  that  separation  from  the 
breathless  thing  upon  the  couch  was  not  like  parting  from 
Mualox.  Whether  she  touched  his  hand  or  looked  in  his 
face  now,  "  Go  hence,  go  hence  !  "  was  what  she  seemed  to 
hear.  The  stony  repulsion  that  substituted  his  living  love 
reconciled  her  to  the  idea  of  leaving  home,  for  such  the 
chamber  had  been  to  her. 

Here  I  may  as  well  confess  the  page  began  to  do  a  great 
deal  of  talking,  —  a  consequence,  probably,  of  having  a  good 


LIFE   IN  THE   PABA'S  WORLD.  409 

listener ;  or  he  may  have  thought  it  a  duty  to  teach  all 
that  was  necessary  to  prepare  his  disciple  for  life  in  the  new 
world.  In  the  midst  of  a  lecture,  the  tinkle  of  a  bell 
brought  him  to  a  hasty  pause. 

"  Now,  0  Blessed  Mother,  now  I  am  happy  !  Thou  hast 
not  forsaken  me  !  I  shall  see  the  sun  again,  and  brave  old 
Spain.  Live  my  heart !  "  he  cried,  as  the  last  tinkle  trem 
bled,  and  died  in  the  silence. 

Seeing  that  she  regarded  him  with  surprise,  he  said,  in 
her  tongue,  "  I  was  thanking  the  Mother,  Tecetl.  She  will 
save  us  both.  Go  now,  and  bring  the  breakfast,  —  I  say 
breakfast,  not  knowing  better,  —  and  while  we  eat  I  will 
tell  you  why  I  am  so  glad.  When  you  have  heard  me,  you 
Avill  be  glad  as  I  am." 

She  went  at  once,  and,  coming  back,  found  him  bathing 
his  face  and  head  in  the  water  of  the  basin,  —  a  healthful 
act,  but  not  one  to  strengthen  the  idea  of  his  godship. 
She  placed  the  tray  upon  the  table,  and  helped  him  to 
napkin  and  comb ;  then  they  took  places  opposite  each 
other,  with  the  lamp  between  them ;  whereupon  she  had 
other  proof  of  his  kind  of  being ;  for  it  is  difficult  to  think 
of  a  deity  at  table,  eating.  The  Greeks  felt  the  incongruity, 
and  dined  their  gods  on  nectar  and  ambrosia,  leaving  us  to 
imagine  them  partaken  in  some  other  than  the  ordinary, 
vulgar  way.  Verily,  Tecetl  was  becoming  accustomed  to  the 
stranger  ! 

And  while  they  ate,  he  explained  his  plans,  and  talked  of 
the  upper  world,  and  described  its  wonders  and  people, 
until,  her  curiosity  aroused,  she  plied  him  with  questions ; 
and  as  point  after  point  was  given,  we  may  suppose  nature 
asserted  itself,  and  taught  her,  by  what  power  there  is  in 
handsome  youth,  with  its  bright  eyes,  smooth  face,  and 
,  tongue  more  winsome  than  wise,  that  life  in  the  said  world 
was  a  desirable  exchange  for  the  monotonous  drifting  to 


410  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


which  she  had  been  so  long  subjected.  We  may  also  sup 
pose  that  she  was  not  slow  to  observe  the  difference  between 
Mualox  and  the  page ;  which  was  that  between  age  and 
youth,  or,  more  philosophically,  that  between  a  creature  to 
be  revered  and  a  creature  to  be  admired. 


CHAPTEE  X. 

THE    ANGEL    BECOMES    A    BEADSWOMAN. 

E  stars  at  the  foot  of  the  last  chapter  I  called  in  as 
JL  an  easy  bridge  by  which  to  cross  an  interval  of  two 
days,  —  a  trick  never  to  be  resorted  to  except  when  there  is 
nothing  of  interest  to  record,  as  was  the  case  here. 

Orteguilla  occupied  the  interval  very  industriously,  if  not 
pleasantly.  He  had  in  hand  two  tasks,  —  one  to  instruct 
Tecetl  about  the  world  to  which  he  had  vowed  to  lead  her ; 
the  other  to  fix  upon  a  plan  of  escape.  The  first  he  found 
easy,  the  latter  difficult ;  yet  he  had  decided,  and  his  prepara 
tions  for  the  attempt,  sufficient,  he  thought,  though  simple, 
lay  upon  the  floor  by  the  fountain.  A  lamp  shed  a  dim  light 
over  the  scene. 

"  So,  so,  Tecetl  :  are  we  ready  now  ? "  he  asked. 

"  You  are  the  master,"  she  replied. 

"  Very  good,  I  will  be  assured." 

He  went  through  a  thorough  inspection. 

"  Here  are  the  paint  and  brush ;  here  the  oil  and  lamp ; 
here  the  bread  and  meat,  and  the  calabash  of  water.  So  far, 
good,  very  good.  And  here  is  the  mat,  —  very  comfortable, 
Tecetl,  if  you  have  to  make  your  bed  upon  a  stone  in  the 
floor.  Now,  are  we  ready  '? " 


THE  ANGEL  BECOMES  A  BEADSWOMAN.  411 

"Yes,  if  you  say  so." 

"  Good  again  !  The  Mother  is  with  us.  Courage  !  You 
shall  see  the  sun  and  sky,  or  I  am  not  a  Spaniard.  Listen, 
now,  and  I  will  explain." 

They  took  seats  upon  the  bench,  this  time  together ;  foi 
the  strangeness  was  wellnigh  gone,  and  they  had  come  to 
have  an  interest  in  a  common  purpose. 

"  You  must  know,  then,  that  I  have  two  reliances  :  first, 
the  man  who  brings  the  tray  to  the  door ;  next,  the  Blessed 
Mother." 

"  I  will  begin  with  the  first,"  he  said,  after  a  pause.  "  The 
man  is  a  slave,  and,  therefore,  easy  to  impose  upon.  If  lie 
is  like  his  class,  from  habit,  he  asks  no  questions  of  his 
superiors.  Your  father  —  I  speak  from  what  you  have  told 
me  —  was  thoughtful  and  dreamy,  and  spoke  but  little  to 
anybody,  and  seldom,  if  'ever,  to  his  servants.  You  are  not 
well  versed  in  human  nature ;  one  day,  no  doubt,  you  will 
be ;  then  you  will  be  able  to  decide  whether  I  am  right  in 
believing  that  the  traits  of  master  and  slave,  which  I  have 
mentioned,  are  likely  to  help  us.  I  carried  your  father's 
body  over  to  the  corner  yonder,  —  you  were  asleep  at  the 
time,  —  and  laid  it  upon  the  floor,  as  we  Christians  serve  our 
dead.  I  made  two  crosses,  and  put  one  upon  his  lips,  the 
other  on  his  breast ;  he  will  sleep  all  the  better  for  them. 
As  you  would  have  done,  had  you  been  present,  I  also  cov 
ered  him  with  flowers.  One  other  thing  I  did." 

He  took  a  lamp,  and  was  gone  a  moment. 

"  Here  are  your  father's  gown  and  hood,"  he  said,  com 
ing  back.  "  I  doubt  whether  they  would  sell  readily  in 
the  market.  He  will  never  need  them  again.  I  took  them 
to  help  save  your  life,  —  a  purpose  for  which  he  would 
certainly  have  given  them,  had  he  been  alive.  I  will  put 
them  on." 

He  laid  his  bonnet  on  the  bench ;  then  took  off  his  boots, 


412  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


and  put  on  the  gown,  —  a  garment  of  coarse  black  mania, 
loose  in  body  and  sleeves,  and  hanging  nearly  to  the  feet. 
Tying  the  cord  about  his  waist,  and  drawing  the  hood  over 
his  head,  he  walked  away  a  few  steps,  saying,  — 

"  Look  at  me,  Tecetl.  Your  father  was  very  old.  Did  he 
stoop  much  1  as  much  as  this  1 " 

He  struck  the  good  man's  habitual  posture,  and,  in  a  mo 
ment  after,  his  slow,  careful  gait.  At  the  sight,  she  could 
not  repress  her  tears. 

"  What,  crying  again  !  "  he  said.  "  I  shall  be  ashamed  of 
you  soon.  If  we  fail,  then  you  may  cry,  and  —  I  do  not 
know  but  that  I  will  join  you.  People  who  weep  much 
cannot  hear  as  they  ought,  and  I  want  you  to  hear  every 
word.  To  go  on,  then  :  In  this  guise  I  mean  to  wait  for 
the  old  slave.  "When  he  lets  the  tray  down,  I  will  be 
there  to  climb  the  ladder.  He  wiU  see  the  hood  and  gown, 
and  think  me  his  old  master.  He  will  not  speak,  nor  will  I. 
He  will  let  me  get  to  his  side,  and  then  —  " 

After  reflection,  he  continued,  — 

"  Ah,  Tecetl !  you  know  not  what  troubles  women  some 
times  are.  Here  am  I  now.  How  easy  for  me,  in  this 
guise,  to  follow  the  slave  out  of  the  temple !  The  most  I 
would  have  to  do  would  be  to  hold  my  tongue.  But  you, — 
I  cannot  go  and  leave  you ;  the  Senor  Hernan  would  not 
forgive  me,  and  I  could  not  forgive  myself.  Nevertheless, 
you  are  a  trouble.  For  instance,  when  the  slave  sees  you 
with  me,  will  he  not  be  afraid,  and  run  1  or,  to  prevent 
that,  shall  I  not  have  to  make  him  a  prisoner?  That 
involves  a  struggle.  I  may  have  to  fight  him,  to  wound 
him.  I  may  get  hurt  myself,  and  then  —  alas  !  what  would 
become  of  us  1 " 

Again,  he  stopped,  but  at  length  proceeded,  — 

"  So  much  for  that.  Now  for  my  other  reliance,  —  the 
Blessed  Lady.  If  the  slave  escapes  me,  you  see,  Tecetl,  I  must 


THE  ANGEL   BECOMES  A  BEADSWOMAN.  413 

trust  to  what  the  infidels  call  Fortune,  —  a  wicked  spirit, 
sometimes  good,  sometimes  bad.  I  mean  we  shall  then  have 
to  hunt  the  way  out  ourselves ;  and,  having  already  tried 
that,  I  know  what  will  happen.  Hence  these  preparations. 
With  the  paint,  I  will  mark  the  corners  we  pass,  that  I  may 
know  them  again ;  the  lamp  will  enable  me  to  see  the  marks 
and  keep  the  direction ;  if  we  get  hungry,  here  are  bread  and 
meat,  saved,  as  you  know,  from  our  meals  ;  if  we  get  thirsty, 
the  calabash  will  be  at  hand.  That  is  what  I  call  trusting 
to  ourselves  ;  yet  the  Blessed  Mother  enabled  me  to  antici 
pate  all  these  wants,  and  provide  for  them,  as  we  have 
done ;  therefore  I  call  her  my  reliance.  Now  you  have  my 
plans.  I  said  you  were  my  trouble ;  you  cannot  work,  or 
think,  or  fight ;  yet  there  is  something  you  can  do.  Tecetl, 
you  can  be  my  pretty  beadswoman.  I  see  you  do  not  know 
what  that  is.  I  will  explain.  Take  these  beads." 

While  speaking,  he  took  a  string  of  them  from  his 
neck. 

"  Take  these  beads,  and  begin  now  to  say,  '  0  Blessed 
Mother,  beautiful  Mother,  save  us  for  Christ's  sake.'  Repeat ! 
Good  !  "  he  said,  his  eyes  sparkling.  "  I  think  the  prayer 
never  sounded  as  sweetly  before ;  nor  was  there  ever  cavalier 
with  such  a  beadswoman.  Again." 

And  again  she  said  the  prayer. 

"  Now,"  he  said,  "  take  the  string  in  your  own  hand,  — 
thus ;  drop  one  bead,  —  thus ;  and  keep  on  praying,  and 
for  every  prayer  drop  one  bead.  Only  think,  Tecetl,  how  I 
shall  be  comforted,  as  I  go  along  the  gloomy  passages,  to  know 
that  right  behind  me  comes  one,  so  lately  a  heathen  but  now 
a  Christian,  at  every  step  calling  on  the  Mother.  Who 
knows  but  we  shall  be  out  and  in  the  beautiful  day  before 
the  beads  are  twice  counted  ?  If  so,  then  shall  we  know 
that  she  cared  for  us  ;  and  when  we  reach  the  palace  we  will 
go  to  the  chapel,  with  good  Father  Bartolomd,  and  say  the 


414  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


prayer  together  once  for  every  bead  on  the  string.  So  I 
vow,  and  do  you  the  same." 

"  So  I  vow,"  she  said,  with  a  pretty  submission. 

Then,  by  ropes  fixed  for  the  purpose,  he  raised  the  cala 
bash,  and  mat,  and  bundle  of  provisions,  and  swung  them 
lightly  over  his  shoulders.  Under  his  arm  he  took  an  earthen 
vase  filled  with  oil. 

"Let  us  to  the  door  now.  The  slave  should  be  there. 
Before  we  start,  look  around  :  you  are  leaving  this  place 
forever." 

The  thought  went  to  her  heart. 

"  O  my  birds  !     What  will  become  of  them  1 " 

"  Leave  them  to  God,"  he  replied,  laconically. 

There  were  tears  and  sobs,  in  the  midst  of  which  he 
started  off,  lamp  in  hand.  She  gave  a  look  to  the  fountain, 
within  the  circle  of  whose  voice  nearly  all  her  years  had 
been  passed.  In  her  absence,  it  would  play  and  sing,  would 
go  on  as  of  old ;  but  in  her  absence  who  would  be  there  to 
see  and  hear  1  In  the  silence  and  darkness  it  would  live, 
but  nevermore  for  her. 

And  she  looked  to  the  corner  of  the  chamber  where  Orte- 
guilla  had  carried  the  body  of  the  paba.  Her  tears  attested 
her  undimimshed  affection  for  him.  The  recollection  of  his 
love-  outlived  the  influence  of  his  Will.  His  World  was 
being  abandoned,  having  first  become  a  tomb,  capacious  and 
magnificent,  —  his  tomb.  But  Quetzal'  had  not  come. 
Broken  are  thy  dreams,  0  Mualox,  wasted  thy  wealth  of 
devotion  !  Yet,  at  this  parting,  thou  hast  tears.  —  first 
and  last  gift  of  Love,  the  sweetest  of  human  principles, 
and  the  strongest,  —  stronger  than  the  Will ;  for  if  the  lat 
ter  cannot  make  God  of  a  man,  the  former  can  take  him 
to  God. 

And  while  she  looked,  came  again  the  bird  of  the  breast 
of  purple  and  wings  of  snow,  which  she  placed  in  her  bosom ; 


THE  ANGEL  BECOMES  A  BEADSWOMAN.  415 

she  followed  the  page,  saying,  trustfully,  "0  Blessed 
Mother,  beautiful  Mother,  save  us  for  Christ's  sake  !  " 

Outside  the  curtain  door  he  deposited  his  load,  and  care 
fully  explained  to  Tecetl  the  use  of  the  ladder.  Then  he 
placed  a  stool  for  her. 

"  Sit  now ;  you  can  do  nothing  more.  Everything  de 
pends  on  the  slave  :  if  he  behaves  well,  we  shall  have  no 
need  of  these  preparations,  and  they  may  be  left  here.  But 
whether  he  behave  well  or  ill,  remember  this,  Tecetl,  —  cease 
not  to  pray  ;  forget  not  the  beads." 

And  so  saying,  he  tossed  a  stout  cord  up  through  the 
trap  ;  then,  leaving  the  lamp  below,  he  clomb  to  the  floor 
above.  His  anxiety  may  be  imagined.  Fortunately,  the 
waiting  was  not  long.  Through  the  gallery  distantly  he  saw 
a  light,  which  —  praise  to  the  Mother  !  —  came  his  way.  He 
descended  the  ladder. 

"  He  comes,  and  is  alone.  Be  of  cheer,  Tecetl ;  be  of 
cheer,  and  pray.  O  if  the  Mother  but  stay  with  us 
now  ! " 

Faster  fell  the  beads. 

When  the  sound  of  footsteps  overhead  announced  the  ar 
rival  of  the  slave,  Orteguilla  put  his  dagger  between  his 
teeth,  drew  the  hood  over  his  head,  and  began  to  ascend. 
He  dared  not  look  up  ;  he  trusted  in  the  prayers  of  the  little 
beadswoman,  and  clomb  on. 

His  head  reached  the  level  of  the  floor,  and  with  the  trap 
gaping  wide  around,  he  knew  himself  under  the  man's  eyes. 
Another  moment,  and  his  hand  was  upon  the  floor ;  slowly 
he  raised  himself  clear  of  the  rope  ;  he  stood  up,  then  turned 
to  the  slave,  and  saw  him  to  be  old,  and  feeble,  and  almost 
naked  ;  the  lamp  was  on  his  forehead,  the  tray  at  his  feet ; 
his  face  was  downcast,  his  posture  humble.  The  Spaniard's 
blood  leaped  exultantly  ;  nevertheless,  carefully  and  deliber 
ately,  as  became  his  assumed  character,  he  moved  to  one  side 


416  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


of  the  passage,  to  clear  the  way  to  the  trap.  The  servant 
accepted  the  movement,  and  without  a  word  took  the  lamp 
from  his  head,  crossed  the  great  stone,  fixed  the  ropes,  and 
stooped  to  lower  the  tray. 

Orteguilla  had  anticipated  everything,  even  this  action, 
which  gave  him  his  supreme  advantage ;  so  he  picked  up 
the  cord  lying  near,  and  stepped  to  the  old  man's  side. 
When  the  tray  was  landed  below,  the  latter  raised  him 
self  upon  his  knees  ;  in  an  instant  the  cord  was  around 
his  body ;  before  he  understood  the  assault,  escape  was  im 
possible. 

Orteguilla,  his  head  yet  covered  by  the  hood,  said  calmly, 
"  Be  quiet,  and  you  are  safe." 

The  man  looked  up,  and  replied,  "I  am  the  paba's  servant 
now,  even  as  I  was  when  a  youth.  I  have  done  no  wrong, 
and  am  not  afraid." 

"I  want  you  to  live.     Only  move  not." 

Then  the  page  called,  "  Tecetl !  Tecetl !  " 

"  Here,"  she  answered. 

"  Try,  now,  to  come  up.  Be  careful  lest  you  fall.  If 
you  need  help,  tell  me." 

"  What  shall  I  do  with  the  bread  and  meat,  and  — 

"Leave  them.  The  Mother  has  been  with  us.  Come 
up." 

The  climbing  was  really  a  sailor's  feat,  and  difficult  for 
her ;  finally,  she  raised  her  head  through  the  trap.  At  the 
sight,  the  slave  shrank  back,  as  if  to  run.  Orteguilla  spoke 
to  him. 

"Be  not  afraid  of  the  child.  I  have  raised  her  to  help 
me  take  care  of  the  temple.  We  are  going  to  the  chapel 
now." 

The  man  turned  to  him  curious]  y  ;  possibly  he  detected 
a  strange  accent  under  the  hood.  When,  on  her  part,  Tecetl 
saw  him,  she  stopped,  full  of  wonder  as  of  fear.  Old  and 


THE  ANGEL  BECOMES  A  BEADSWOMAN.  417 

ugly  as  lie  was,  he  yet  confirmed  the  page's  story,  and  brought 
the  new  world  directly  to  her.  So  a  child  stops,  and  regards 
the  first  person  met  at  the  door  of  a  strange  house,  —  at 
tracted,  curious,  afraid. 

"  Come  on,"  said  Orteguilla. 

She  raised  her  hand  overhead,  and  held  up  the  bird  with 
the  white  wings. 

"  Take  it,"  she  said. 

Used  as  lie  was  to  wonderful  things  in  connection  with 
his  old  master,  the  servant  held  back.  A  girl  and  a  bird 
from  the  cells,  —  a  mystery,  indeed  ! 

"  Take  it,"  said  Orteguilla. 

He  did  so  ;  whereupon  the  page  assisted  her  to  the  floor. 

"  We  are  almost  there,  —  almost,"  he  said,  cheerfully. 
"  Have  you  kept  count  of  the  prayers  ?  Let  me  see  the 
beads." 

She  held  out  the  rosary. 

"  Ten  beads  more,  —  ten  prayers  yet.  The  Mother  is  with 
us.  Courage ! " 

Then  of  the  slave  he  asked,  — 

"  How  is  the  day  without  1 " 

"  There  is  not  a  cloud  in  the  sky." 

"  Is  it  morning  or  evening  ? " 

"  About  midday."     . 

"  Is  the  city  quiet  ] " 

"  I  cannot  say." 

"  Very  well.  Give  the  girl  her  bird,  and  lead  to  the  court- 
yard."  ' 

And  they  started,  the  slave  ahead,  held  in  check  by  the 
cord  in  the  Spaniard's  hand.  The  light  was  faint  and  un 
steady.  Once  they  ascended  a  flight  of  steps,  and  twice 
changed  direction.  When  the  page  saw  the  many  cells  on 
either  side,  and  the  number  of  intersecting  passages,  all  equal 
iu  height  and  width,  and  bounded  by  the  same  walls  of 
18*  A.V 


418  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


rough  red  stone,  lie  understood  how  he  became  lost ;  and 
with  a  shuddering  recollection  of  his  wanderings  through 
the  great  house,  he  could  not  sufficiently  thank  the  Provi 
dence  that  was  now  befriending  him. 

They  clomb  yet  another  stairway,  and  again  changed  di 
rection  ;  after  that,  a  little  farther  walk,  and  Orteguilla 
caught  sight  of  a  doorway  penetrated  by  a  pure  white  light, ' 
which  he  recognized  as  day.  Words  cannot  express  his 
emotion ;  his  spirit  could  hardly  be  controlled ;  he  would 
have  shouted,  sung,  danced,  —  anything  to  relieve  himself 
of  this  oppression  of  happiness.  But  he  thought,  if  he  were 
out  of  the  temple,  he  would  not  yet  be  out  of  danger ;  that 
he  had  to  make  Avay,  by  the  great  street  from  which  he 
had  been  driven,  to  the  quarters  of  his  friends,  before  he 
could  promise  himself  rest  and  safety ;  the  disguise  was  the 
secret  of  his  present  good-fortune,  and  must  help  him  further. 
So  he  restrained  himself,  saying  to  Tecetl,  — 

"  For  the  time,  cease  your  prayers,  little  one.  The  world 
I  promised  to  bring  you  to  is  close  by.  I  see  the  daylight." 

There  was  indeed  a  door  into  the  patio,  or  court-yard,  of 
the  temple.  Under  the  lintel  the  page  lingered  a  moment, 
—  the  court  was  clear.  Then  he  gave  the  cord  into  the  ser 
vant's  hand,  with  the  usual  parting  salutation,  and  stepped 
once  more  into  the  air,  fresh  with  the  moisture  of  the  lake  and 
the  fragrance  of  the  valley.  He  looked  to  the  sky,  blue  as 
ever  ;  and  through  its  serenity,  up  sped  his  grateful  Ave  Maria. 
In  the  exulting  sense  of  rescue,  he  forgot  all  else,  and  was  well 
across  the  court  to  the  steps  leading  to  the  azoteas,  when  he 
thought  of  Tecetl.  He  looked  back,  and  did  not  see  her ; 
he  ran  to  the  door ;  she  was  there.  The  bird  had  fallen  to 
the  floor,  and  was  fluttering  blindly  about ;  her  hands  were 
pressed  hard  over  her  face. 

"  What  ails  you  1 "  he  asked,  petulantly.  "  This  is  not  a 
time  to  halt  and  cxy.  Come  on." 


THE  ANGEL  BECOMES  A   BEADSWOMAN.  419 

"  I  cannot  —  "    1 

"  Cannot !     Give  me  your  hand." 

He  led  her  through  the  door,  under  the  colonnade,  out  into 
the  court. 

"  Look  up,  Tecetl,  look  up !  See  the  sky,  drink  the  air. 
You  are  free !  " 

She  uncovered  her  eyes ;  they  filled  as  with  fiery  arrows. 
She  screamed,  staggered  as  if  struck,  and  cried,  "  Where 
are  you  ]  I  am  lost,  I  am  blind  !  " 

"0  Madre  de  Dios  !  "  said  Orteguilla,  comprehending  the 
calamity,  and  all  its  inconveniences  to  her  and  himself. 
"Help  me,  most  miserable  of  wretches,  —  help  me  to  a  little 
wisdom !  " 

To  save  her  from  falling,  he  had  put  his  arm  around  her  ; 
and  as  they  stood  thus,  —  she  the  picture  of  suffering,  and  he 
overwhelmed  by  perplexity,  —  help  from  any  quarter  would 
have  been  welcome ;  had  the  slave  been  near,  he  might  have 
abandoned  her  ;  but  aid  there  was  not.  So  he  led  her  tender 
ly  to  the  steps,  and  seated  her. 

"  How  stupid,"  he  said  in  Spanish,  —  "  how  stupid  not  to 
think  of  this  !  If,  the  moment  I  was  born,  they  had  carried 
me  out  to  take  a  look  at  the  sun,  shining  as  he  is  here,  I 
would  have  been  blinder  than  any  beggar  on  the  Prado, 
blinder  than  the  Bernardo  of  whom  I  have  heard  Don 
Pedro  tell.  My  nurse  was  a  sensible  woman." 

Debating  what  to  do,  he  looked  at  Tecetl ;  and  for  the 
first  time  since  she  had  come  out  of  the  door,  he  noticed 
her  dress,  —  simply  a  cotton  chemise,  a  skirt  of  the  same 
reaching  below  the  knees,  a  blue  sash  around  the  waist, 
—  very  simple,  but  very  clean.  He  noticed,  also,  the  exceed 
ing  delicacy  of  her  person,  the  transparency  of  her  complex 
ion,  the  profusion  of  her  hair,  which  was  brown  in  the  sun. 
Finally,  he  observed  the  rosary. 

"  She  is  not  clad  according  to  the  laws  which  govern  high- 


420  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


born  ladies  over  the  water ;  yet  she  is  beautiful,  and  —  ty 
the  Mother  !  she  is  a  Christian.  Enough.  By  God's  love,  I 
who  taught  her  to  pray,  will  save  her,  though  I  die.  Hel] 
me,  all  the  saints  !  " 

He  adjusted  the  hood  once  more,  and,  stooping,  said,  ii 
his  kindliest  tone,  "  Pshaw,  Tecetl,  you  are  not  blind.  Th 
light  of  the  sun  is  so  much  stronger  than  that  of  your  lam}) 
that  your  eyes  could  not  bear  it.  Cheer  up,  cheer  up  !  Am 
now  put  your  arm  around  my  neck.  I  will  carry  you  ti 
the  top  of  these  steps.  We  cannot  stay  here." 

She  stretched  out  her  arms. 

"  Hark  !  "  he  cried.     "  What  is  that  1 " 

He  stood  up  and  listened.  The  air  above  the  tempi 
seemed  full  of  confused  sounds ;  now  resembling  the  distan 
roar  of  the  sea,  now  the  hum  of  insects,  now  the  yells  oJ 
men. 

"  Jesu  !  I  know  that  sound.     There,  —  there  !  " 

He  listened  again.  Through  the  soaring,  muffled  din 
came  another  report,  as  of  thunder  below  the  horizon. 

"  It  is  the  artillery  !  By  the  mother  that  bore  me,  thi 
guns  of  Mesa  !  " 

The  words  of  Io',  spoken  in  Xoli's  portico,  came  back  t< 
him. 

"  Battle  !     As  I  live,  they  are  fighting  on  the  street !  " 

And  he,  too,  sat  down,  listening,  thinking.  How  was  hi 
to  get  to  his  countrymen  ? 

The  sounds  overhead  continued,  at  intervals  intensifier 
by  the  bellowing  guns.  Battle  has  a  fascination  whicl 
draws  men  as  birds  are  said  to  be  drawn  by  serpents.  The] 
listen ;  then  wish  to  see  ;  lingering  upon  the  edge,  they  catcl 
its  spirit,  and  finally  thrill  with  fierce  delight  to  find  them 
selves  within  the  heat  and  fury  of  its  deadly  circle.  Th< 
page  knew  the  feeling  then.  To  see  the  fight  was  an  over 
mastering  desire. 


THE  ANGEL  BECOMES   A   BEADSWOMAN.  421 

"  Tecetl,  poor  child,  you  are  better  now  ? " 

"  I  dare  not  open  my  eyes." 

"  Well,  I  will  see  for  you.  Put  your  arms  around  my 
neck."" 

And  with  that,  he  carried  her  up  the  steps.  All  the  time, 
he  gave  ear  to  the  battle. 

"  Listen,  Tecetl ;  hear  that  noise  !  A  battle  is  going  on 
out  in  the  street,  and  seems  to  be  coming  this  way.  I 
will  lead  you  into  the  chapel  here,  —  a  holy  place,  so  your 
father  would  have  said.  In  the  shade,  perhaps,  you  can 
find  relief." 

"  How  pleasant  the  air  is !  "  she  said,  as  they  entered. 

"  Yes,  and  there  is  Quetzal',"  —  he  pointed  to  the  idol,  — 
"and  here  the  step  before  the  altar  upon  which,  I  venture, 
your  father  spent  half  his  life  in  worship.  Sit,  and  rest 
until  I  return." 

"  Do  not  leave  me,"  she  said. 

"  A  little  while  only.  I  must  see  the  fight.  Some  good 
may  come  of  it,  —  who  knows  ?  Be  patient ;  I  will  not 
leave  you." 

He  went  to  the  door.  The  sounds  were  much  louder  and 
nearer.  All  the  air  above  the  city  apparently  was  filled 
with  them.  Amongst  the  medley,  he  distinguished  the 
yells  of  men  and  peals  of  horns.  Shots  were  frequent,  and 
now  and  then  came  the  heavy,  pounding  report  of  cannon. 
He  had  been  at  Tabasco,  at  Tzimpantzinco,  and  in  the  three 
pitched  battles  in  Tlascala,  and  was  familiar  with  what  he 
heard. 

"  How  they  fight !  "  he  said  to  himself.  "  Don  Pedro  is 
a  good  sword  and  brave  gentlemen,  but  —  ah  !  if  the  Senor 
Hernan  were  there,  I  should  feel  better  :  he  is  a  good 
sword,  brave  gentleman,  and  wise  general,  also.  Heaven 
fights  for  him.  Ill  betide  Karvaez  J  Why  could  he  not 
have  put  off  his  coming  until  the  city  was  reduced  ?  Jesu  ! 


422  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


The  sounds  come  this  way  now.  Victory  !  The  guns  have 
quit,  the  infidels  fly,  on  their  heels  ride  the  cavaliers. 
Victory !  " 

And  so,  intent  upon  the  conflict,  insensibly  he  approached 
the  front  of  the  temple,  before  described  as  one  great 
stairway.  On  the  topmost  step  he  paused.  A  man  look 
ing  at  him  from  the  street  below  would  have  said,  "It 
is  only  a  paba "  ;  and  considering,  further,  that  he  was  a 
paba  serving  the  forsaken  shrine,  he  would  have  passed  by 
without  a  second  look. 

What  he  looked  down  upon  was  a  broad  street,  crowded 
with  men,  —  not  citizens,  but  warriors,  and  warriors  in  such 
splendor  of  costume  that  he  was  fairly  dazzled.  Their 
movement  suggested  a  retreat,  whereat  pride  dashed  his  eyes 
with  the  spray  of  tears ;  he  dared  not  shout. 

More  and  more  eagerly  he  listened  to  the  coming  tumult. 
At  last,  finding  the  attraction  irresistible,  he  descended  the 
steps. 

The  enemy  were  not  in  rout.  They  moved  rapidly, 
but  in  ranks  extending  the  width  of  the  street,  and  per 
fectly  ordered.  The  right  of  their  column  swept  by  the 
Spaniard  almost  within  arm's  reach.  He  heard  the  breath 
ing  of  the  men,  saw  their  arms,  —  their  shields  of  quilted 
cotton,  embossed  with  brass ;  their  armor,  likewise  of 
quilted  cotton,  but  fire-red  with  the  blood  of  the  cochineal ; 
he  saw  their  musicians,  drummers,  and  conch-blowers,  the 
latter  making  a  roar  ragged  and  harsh,  and  so  loud  that 
a  groan  or  death-shriek  could  not  be  heard  ;  he  saw,  too, 
their  chiefs,  with  helms  richly  plumed  or  grotesquely 
adorned  with  heads  of  wild  animals,  with  escaupiles  of 
plumage,  gorgeous  as  hues  of  sunset,  with  lances  and  ma- 
quahuitls,  and  shields  of  bison -hide  or  burnished  silver, 
mottoed  and  deviced,  like  those  of  Christians ;  amongst 
them,  also,  he  saw  pabas,  bareheaded,  without  arms,  frocked 


THE  ANGEL  BECOMES  A  BEADSWOMAN.  423 

like  himself,  singing  wild  hymns,  or  chanting  wilder 
epics,  or  shouting  names  of  heroic  gods,  or  blessing  the 
brave  and  cursing  the  craven,  —  the  Sun  for  the  one,  Mict- 
lan  for  the  other.  The  seeing  all  these  things,  it  must  be 
remembered,  was  very  different  from  their  enumeration; 
but  a  glance  was  required. 

The  actual  struggle,  as  he  knew,  was  at  the  rear  of  the 
passing  column.  In  fancy  he  could  see  "horsemen  plunging 
through  the  ranks,  plying  sword,  lance,  and  battle-axe.  And 
nearer  they  came.  He  could  tell  by  the  signs,  as  well  as  the 
sounds ;  by  the  files  beginning  to  crowd  each  other ;  by  the 
chiefs  laboring  to  keep  their  men  from  falling  into  confused 
masses.  At  length  the  bolt  of  a  cross-bow,  striking  a  man, 
fell  almost  at  his  feet.  Only  the  hand  of  a  Spaniard  could 
have  launched  the  missile. 

"  They  come,  —  they  are  almost  here  !  "  he  thought,  and 
then,  "  0  Madre  de  Dios  !  If  they  drive  the  infidels  past 
this  temple,  I  am  saved.  And  they  will.  Don  Pedro's 
blood  is  up,  and  in  pursuit  he  thinks  of  nothing  but  to  slay, 
slay.  They  will  come  ;  they  are  coming  !  There  —  Jesu 
Christo  !  That  was  a  Christian  shout !  " 

The  cross-bow  bolts  now  came  in  numbers.  The  warriors 
protected  themselves  by  holding  their  shields  over  the 
shoulder  behind ;  yet  some  dropped,  and  were  trampled 
under  foot.  Orteguilla  was  himself  in  danger,  but  his  sus 
pense  was  so  great  that  he  thought  only  of  escape  j  each 
bolt  was  a  welcome  messenger,  with  tidings  from  friends. 

The  column,  meantime,  seemed  to  become  more  disordered ; 
finally,  its  formation  disappeared  utterly ;  chiefs  and  war 
riors  were  inextricably  mixed  together ;  the  conch-blowers 
blew  hideously,  but  could  not  altogether  drown  the  yells  of 
the  fighting  men. 

Directly  the  page  saw  a  rush,  a  parting  in  the  crowd  as 
of  waters  before  a  ship ;  scores  of  dark  faces,  each  a  picture 


424  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


of  dismay,  turned  suddenly  to  look  back ;  he  also  looked, 
and  over  the  heads  and  upraised  shields,  half  obscured  by  a 
shower  of  stones  and  arrows,  he  saw  a  figure  which  might 
well  have  been  taken  for  the  fiend  of  slaughter,  —  a  horse  and 
rider,  in  whose  action  there  were  a  correspondence  and  unity 
that  made  them  for  the  time  one  fighting  animal.  A  front- 
leted  head,  tossed  up  for  a  forward  plunge,  was  what  he  saw 
of  the  horse  j  a  steel-clad  form,  swinging  a  battle-axe  with 
the  regularity  of  a  machine,  now  to  the  right,  now  to  the 
left  of  the  horse's  neck,  was  all  he  saw  of  the  rider.  Ho 
fell  upon  his  knees,  muttering  what  he  dared  not  shout, 
"  Don  Pedro,  brave  gentleman  !  I  am  saved  !  T  am  saved  !  " 
Instantly  he  sprang  to  his  feet.  "  0  my  God  !  Tecetl,  —  I 
had  almost  forgotten  her  !  " 

He  climbed  the  steps  again  fast  as  the  gown  would 
permit. 

"  My  poor  girl,  come  ;  the  Mother  offers  us  rescue.  Can 
you  not  see  a  little  1 " 

She  smiled  faintly,  and  replied,  "  I  cannot  say.  I  have 
tried  to  look  at  Quetzal'  here.  He  was  said  to  be  very  beau 
tiful  ;  my  father  always  so  described  him ;  but  this  thing  is 
ugly.  I  fear  I  cannot  see." 

"  It  is  a  devil's  image,  Tecetl,  a  devil's  image,  —  Satan 
himself,"  said  the  page,  vehemently.  "  Let  him  not  lose  us  a 
moment ;  for  each  one  is  of  more  worth  to  us  than  the  gold 
on  his  shield  there.  If  you  cannot  see,  give  me  your  hand. 
Come ! " 

He  led  her  to  the  steps.  The  infidels  below  seemed  to  have 
held  their  ground  awhile,  fighting  desperately.  Eight  or  ten 
horsemen  were  driving  them,  though  slowly;  if  one  war; 
struck  down,  another  took  his  place.  The  street  was  dusty  as 
with  the  sweeping  of  a  whirlwind.  Under  the  yellow  cloud 
lay  the  dead  and  wounded.  The  air  was  alive  with  missiles, 
of  which  some  flew  above  the  temple,  others  dashed  againgfc 


THE  ANGEL  BECOMES   A  BEADSWOMAN.  425 

the  steps.  It  looked  like  madness  to  go  down  into  such  a 
vortex;  but  there  was  no  other  chance.  What  moment  Don 
Pedro  might  tire  of  killing  no  one  could  tell ;  whenever  he 
did,  the  recall  would  be  sounded. 

"  What  do  I  hear  ?  What  dreadful  sounds  !  "  said  Tecetl, 
shrinking  from  the  tumult. 

"  Battle,"  he  answered ;  "  and  what  that  is  I  have  not 
time  to  tell ;  we  must  go  down  and  see." 

He  waited  until  the  fighting  was  well  past  the  front  of 
the  old  Cu,  leaving  a  space  behind  the  cavaliers  clear  of  all 
save  those  who  might  never  fight  again  ;  then  he  threw  back 
the  hood,  loosed  the  cord  from  his  waist,  and  flung  the  dis 
guise  from  him. 

"  Now,  my  pretty  beadswoman,  now  is  the  time  !  Begin 
the  prayer  again  :  '  0  Mother,  beautiful  Mother,  save  us  for 
Christ's  sake  ! '  Keep  the  count  with  one  hand  ;  put  the 
other  about  my  neck.  Life  or  death,  —  now  we  go  !  " 

He  carried .  her  down  the  steps.  Over  a  number  of 
wounded  wretches  who  had  dragged  themselves,  half  dead, 
out  of  the  blood  and  trample,  he  crossed  the  pavement.  A 
horseman  caught  sight  of  him,  and  rode  to  his  side,  and 
lifted  the  battle-axe. 

"  Hold,  Sefior  !     I  am  Orteguilla.      Viva  Espana  /" 

The  axe  dropped  harmless ;  up  went  the  visor. 

"  In  time,  boy,  —  in  time  !  An  instant  more,  and  thy  soul 
had  been  in  Paradise,"  cried  Alvarado,  laughing  heartily. 
"  What  hast  thou  there  1  Something  from  the  temple  1 
But  stay  not  to  answer.  To  the  rear,  fast  as  thy  legs 
can  carry  thee !  Faster !  Put  the  baggage  down.  We 
are  tired  of  the  slaughter ;  but  for  thy  sake,  we  will  push 
the  dogs  a  little  farther.  Begone  !  Or  stay  !  Arrows  are 
thicker  here  than  curses  in  hell,  and  thou  hast  no  armor. 
Take  my  shield,  which  I  have  not  used  to-day.  Now  be 
oifl" 


426  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


Orteguilla  set  the  girl  upon  her  feet,  took  the  shield, 
and  proceeded  to  buckle  it  upon  his  arm,  while  Alvarado 
rode  into  the  fight  again.  A  moment  more,  and  he  would 
have  protected  her  with  the  good  steel  wall.  Before  ho 
could  complete  the  preparation,  he  heard  a  cry,  quick,  shrill, 
and  sharp,  that  seemed  to  pierce  his  ear  like  a  knife,  —  the 
cry  by  which  one  in  battle  announces  himself  death-struck, 
—  the  cry  once  heard,  never  forgotten.  He  raised  the  shield, 
—  too  late ;  she  reeled  and  fell,  dragging  him  half  down. 

"  What  ails  thee  now  1 "  he  cried,  in  Spanish,  forgetting 
himself.  "  What  ails  thee  1  Hast  thou  looked  at  the  sun 
again  1 " 

He  lifted  her  head  upon  his  knee. 

"  Mother  of  Christ,  she  is  slain  !  "  he  cried,  in  horror. 

An  arrow  descending  had  gone  through  her  neck  to  the 
heart.  The  blood  gushed  from  her  mouth.  He  took  her 
in  his  arms,  and  carried  her  to  the  steps  of  the  temple.  As 
he  laid  her  down,  she  tried  to  speak,  but  failed  ;  then  she 
opened  her  eyes  wide  :  the  light  poured  into  them  as  into 
the  windows  of  an  empty  house ;  the  soul  was  gone ;  she 
was  dead. 

In  so  short  a  space  habitant  of  three  worlds,  —  when  was 
there  the  like  1 

From  the  peace  of  the  old  chamber  to  the  din  of  battle, 
from  the  din  of  battle  to  the  calm  of  paradise,  —  brief 
time,  short  way  ! 

From  the  sinless  life  to  the  sinful  she  had  come ;  from 
the  sinful  life  sinless  she  had  gone  ;  and  in  the  going  what 
fulness  of  the  mercy  of  God  ! 

I  cannot  say  the  Spaniard  loved  her ;  most  likely  his  feel 
ing  was  the  simple  affection  we  all  have  for  things  gentle  and 
helpless,  —  a  bird,  a  lamb,  a  child  ;  now,  however,  he  knelt 
over  her  with  tears  ;  and  as  he  did  so,  he  saw  the  rosary, 
and  that  all  the  beads  but  one  were  wet  with  her  blood.  He 


THE  PUBLIC  OPINION  PROCLAIMS  ITSELF. — BATTLE.     427 

took  the  string  from  the  slender  neck  and  laid  her  head 
upon  the  stone,  and  thought  the  unstained  bead  was  for  a 
prayer  uncounted,  —  a  prayer  begun  on  earth  and  finished 
in  heaven. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE    PUBLIC    OPINION    PROCLAIMS    ITSELF.  BATTLE. 

"  "T    TOW  now,  thou  here  yet  1      In  God's  name,  what 

JLjL  madness  hast  thou  ?  Up,  idiot !  up,  and  fly,  or  in 
mercy  I  will  slay  thee  here  !  " 

As  he  spoke,  Alvarado  touched  Orteguilla  with  the  handle 
of  his  axe.  The  latter  sprang  up,  alarmed. 

"  Mira,  Senor  !  She  is  just  dead.  I  could  not  leave  her 
dying.  I  had  a  vow." 

The  cavalier  looked  at  the  dead  girl ;  his  heart  soft 
ened. 

"  I  give  thee  honor,  lad,  I  give  thee  honor.  Hadst  thou 
left  her  living,  shame  would  have  been  to  thee  forever.  But 
waste  not  time  in  maudlin.  Hell's  spawn  is  loose."  With 
raised  visor,  he  stood  in  his  stirrups.  "  See,  far  as  eye  can 
reach,  the  street  is  full !  And  hark  to  their  yells  !  Here, 
mount  behind  me  ;  we  must  go  at  speed." 

The  infidels,  faced  about,  were  coming  back.  The  page 
gave  them  one  glance,  then  caught  the  hand  reached  out 
to  him,  and  placing  his  foot  on  the  captain's  swung 
himself  behind.  At  a  word,  up  the  street,  over  the  bridges, 
by  the  palaces  and  temples,  the  horsemen  galloped.  The 
detachment,  at  the  head  of  which  they  had  sallied  from 
the  palace,  —  gunners,  arqiiebusiers,  and  cross-bowmen,  — 
had  been  started  in  return  some  time  before ;  upon  over 
taking  them,  Alvarado  rode  to  a  broad-shouldered  fellow, 


428  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


whose  grizzly  beard  overflowed  the  chin-piece  of  his  mo 
rion  :  — 

"  Ho,  Mesa  !  the  hounds  we  followed  so  merrily  Avere  only 
feigning  ;  they  have  turned  upon  us.  Do  thou  take  the  rear, 
with  thy  guns.  We  will  to  the  front,  and  cut  a  path  to  the 
gate.  Follow  closely." 

"  Doubt  not,  captain.  I  know  the  trick.  I  caught  it  in 
Zkaly." 

"  Cierto  !  What  thou  knowest  not  about  a  gun  is  not 
worth  the  knowing,"  Alvarado  said  ;  then  to  the  page,  "  Dis 
mount,  lad,  and  take  place  with  these.  What  we  have  ahead 
may  require  free  man  and  free  horse.  Picaro  !  If  anybody 
I's  killed,  thou  hast  permission  to  use  his  arms.  What  say 
ye,  companeros  mios  ? "  he  cried,  facing  the  detachment. 
"  What  say  ye  ?  Here  I  bring  one  whom,  we  thought  roasted 
and  eaten  by  the  cannibals  in  the  temples.  Either  he  hath 
escaped  by  miracle,  or  they  are  not  judges  of  bones  good 
to  mess  upon.  He  is  Avithout  arms.  Will  ye  take  care  of 
him]  I  leave  him  my  shield.  Will  ye  take  care  of  that 
also  1 " 

And  Najerra,  the  hunchback,  replied,  "  The  shield  Ave 
Avill  take,  Seiior  ;  but  — 

"  But  what  1 " 

"  Seiior,  may  a  Christian  laAvfully  take  what  the  infidels 
have  refused  ]  " 

And  they  looked  at  Orteguilla,  and  laughed  roundly,  — 
the  bold,  confident  adventurers  ;  in  the  midst  of  the  jollity, 
however,  down  the  street  came  a  sound  deeper  than  that  of 
the  guns,  —  a  sound  of  abysmal  depth,  like  thunder,  but 
Avithout  its  continuity,  —  a  divided,  throbbing  sound,  such 
as  has  been  heard  in  the  throat  of  a  volcano.  Alvarado 
threw  up  his  visor. 

"  What  now  1 "  asked  Serrano,  first  to  speak. 

"  One,  tAVO,  three,  —  I   have   it !  "    the   captain    replied. 


THE  PUBLIC  OPINION  PROCLAIMS  ITSELF. — BATTLE.     429 

"  Couiit  ye  the  strokes,  —  one,  two,  three.  By  the  bones  of 
the  saints,  the  drum  in  the  great  temple !  Forward,  com 
rades  !  Our  friends  are  in  peril !  If  they  are  lost,  so  are 
we.  Forward,  in  Christ's  name  !  " 

Afterwards  they  became  familiar  with  the  sound;  but 
now,  heard  the  first  time  in  battle,  every  man  of  them  was 
affected.  They  moved  off  rapidly,  and  there  was  no  jesting, 
—  none  of  the  grim  wit  with  which  old  soldiers  sometimes 
cover  the  nervousness  preceding  the  primary  plunge  into  a 
doubtful  fight. 

"  Close  the  files.     Be  ready  !  "  shouted  Serrano. 

And  ready  they  were,  —  matches  lighted,  steel-cords  full 
drawn.  Every  drum-beat  Avelded  them  a  firmer  unit. 

The  roar  of  the  combat  in  progress  around  the  palace  had 
been  all  the  time  audible  to  the  returning  party ;  now  they 
beheld  the  teocallis  covered  with  infidels,  and  the  street 
blockaded  with  them,  while  a  cloud  of  smoke,  slowly  rising 
and  slowly  fading,  bespoke  the  toils  and  braveries  of  the 
defence  enacting  under  its  dun  shade.  Suddenly,  Alvarado 
stood  in  his  stirrups,  — 

"  Ola  !  what  have  we  here  1 " 

A  body  of  Aztecs,  in  excellent  order,  armed  with  spears  of 
unusual  length,  and  with  a  front  that  swept  the  street  from 
wall  to  wall,  was  marching  swiftly  to  meet  him. 

"  There  is  wood  enough  in  those  spears  to  build  a  ship," 
said  a  horseman. 

A  few  steps  on  another  spoke,  — 

"  If  I  may  be  allowed,  Senor,  I  suggest  that  Mesa  be  called 
up  to  play  upon  them  awhile." 

But  Alvarado's  spirit  rose. 

"  No  ;  there  is  an  enemy  fast  coming  behind  us ;  turn  thy 
ear  in  that  direction,  and  thou  mayest  hear  them  already.  We 
cannot  wait.  Battle-axe  and  horse  first ;  if  they  fail,  then 
the  guns.  Look  to  girth  and  buckle  !  " 


430  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


Rode  they  then  without  halt  or  speech  until  the  space  be- 
tween  them  and  the  coming  line  was  not  more  than  forty 
yards. 

"  Are  ye  ready  1 "  asked  Alvarado,  closing  his  visor. 

"  Ready,  Senor." 

"  Axes,  then  !  Follow  me.  Forward  !  Christo  y  Santi 
ago  r 

At  the  last  word,  the  riders  loosed  reins,  and  standing,  in 
their  stirrups  hent  forward  over  the  saddle-bow,  as  well  to 
guard  the  horse  as  to  discover  points  of  attack  ;  each  poised 
his  shield  to  protect  his  breast  and  left  side,  —  the  axe  and 
right  arm  would  take  care  of  the  right  side ;  each  took  up 
the  cry,  Christo  y  Santiago ;  then,  like  pillars  of  iron  on 
steeds  of  iron,  they  charged.  From  the  infidels  one  answer 
ing  yell,  and  down  they  sank,  each  upon  his  knee;  and 
thereupon,  the  spears,  planted  on  the  ground,  presented  a 
front  so  bristling  that  leader  less  reckless  than  Alvarado 
would  have  stopped  in  mid-career.  Forward,  foremost  in  the 
charge,  he  drove,  right  upon  the  brazen  points,  a  score  or 
more  of  which  rattled  against  his  mail  or  that  of  his  steed, 
and  glanced  harmlessly,  or  were  dashed  aside  by  the  axe 
whirled  from  right  to  left  with  wonderful  strength  and  skill. 
Something  similar  happened  to  each  of  his  followers.  A 
moment  of  confusion,  —  man  and  beast  in  furious  action, 
clang  of  blows,  splintering  of  wood,  and  battle-cries,  —  then 
two  results  :  the  Christians  were  repulsed,  and  that  before 
the  second  infidel  rank  had  been  reached ;  and  while  they 
were  in  amongst  the  long  spears,  fencing  and  striking,  clear 
above  the  medley  of  the  melee  they  heard  a  shout,  Al- 
a-lala!  Al-a-lala !  Alvarado  looked  that  way;  looked 
through  the  yellow  shafts  and  brazen  points.  Brief  time 
had  he ;  yet  he  beheld  and  recognized  the  opposing  leader. 
Behind  the  kneeling  ranks  he  stood,  without  trappings, 
without  a  shield  even ;  a  maquahuitl,  edged  with  flint, 


THE  PUBLIC  OPINION  PROCLAIMS  ITSELF. — BATTLE.     431 

sharp  as  glass,  hard  as  steel,  was  his  only  weapon  ;  behind 
him  appeared  an  irregular  mass  of  probably  half  a  thou 
sand  men,  unarmed  and  almost  naked.  Even  as  the  good 
captain  looked,  the  horde  sprang  forward,  and  by  press 
ing  between  the  files  of  spearmen,  or  leaping  panther-like 
over  their  shoulders,  gained  the  front.  There  they  rushed 
upon  the  horsemen,  entangled  amidst  the  spears,  —  to  cap 
ture,  not  slay  them ;  for,  by  the  Aztec  code  of  honor,  the 
measure  of  a  warrior's  greatness  was  the  number  of  prisoners 
he  brought  out  of  battle,  a  present  to  the  gods,  not  the  num 
ber  of  foemen  he  slew.  The  rush  was  like  that  of  wolves 
upon  a  herd  of  deer.  First  to  encounter  a  Christian  was  the 
chief.  The  exchange  of  blows  was  incredibly  quick.  The 
horse  reared,  plunged  blindly,  then  rolled  upon  the  ground  ; 
the  flinty  maquahuitl,  surer  than  the  axe,  had  broken  its 
leg.  A  cry,  sharpened  by  mortal  terror,  —  a  Spanish  cry 
for  help,  in  the  Mother's  name.  Christians  and  infidels 
looked  that  way,  and  from  the  latter  burst  a  jubilant 
yell,- 

"  The  'tzin  !     The  'tzin  !  " 

The  successful  leader  stooped,  and  wrenched  the  shield 
from  the  fallen  man ;  then  he  swung  the  maquahuitl  twice, 
and  brought  it  down  on  the  mailed  head  of  the  horse  :  the 
weapon  broke  in  pieces ;  the  steed  lay  still  forever. 

Now,  Alvarado  was  not  the  man  to  let  the  cry  of  a  comrade 
go  unheeded. 

"  Turn,  gentlemen  !  One  of  us  is  down;  bear  ye  not  the 
name  of  Christ  and  the  Mother  ?  To  the  rescue  !  Charge  ! 
Christo  y  Santiago  !  " 

Forward  the  brave  men  spurred ;  the  spears  closed  around 
them  as  before,  while  the  unarmed  foe,  encouraged  by  the 
tzin's  achievement,  redoubled  their  efforts  to  drag  them  from 
their  saddles.  In  disregard  of  blows,  given  fast  as  skilled 
hands  could  rise  and  fall,  some  flung  themselves  upon  the 


432  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

legs  and  necks  of  the  horses,  where  they  seemed  to  cling 
after  the  axe  had  spattered  their  brains  or  the  hoofs  crushed 
their  bones ;  some  caught  the  bridle-reins,  and  hung  to  them 
full  weight ;  others  struggled  with  the  riders  directly,  haul 
ing  at  them,  leaping  behind  them,  catcliing  sword-arm  and 
shield  ;  and  so  did  the  peril  finally  grow  that  the  Christians 
were  forced  to  give  up  the  rescue,  the  better  to  take  care  of 
themselves. 

"  God's  curses  upon  the  dogs  !  "  shouted  Alvarado,  in  fury 
at  sight  of  the  Spaniard  dragged  away.  "Back,  some 
of  ye,  who  can,  to  Serrano  !  Bid  him  advance.  Quick, 
or  we,  too,  are  lost !  " 

No  need ;  Serrano  was  coming.  To  the  very  spears  ho 
advanced,  and  opened  with  cross-bow  and  arquebus ;  yet  the 
infidels  remained  firm.  Then  the  dullest  of  the  Christians 
discerned  the  'tzin's  strategy,  and  knew  well,  if  the  line  in 
front  of  them  were  not  broken  before  the  companies  coming 
up  the  street  closed  upon  their  rear,  they  were  indeed  lost. 
So  at  the  word,  Mesa  came,  his  guns  charged  to  the  muzzles. 
To  avoid  his  own  people,  he  sent  one  piece  to  the  right  of 
the  centre  of  combat,  and  the  other  to  the  left,  and  trained 
both  to  obtain  the  deepest  lines  of  cross-fire.  The  effect 
was  indescribable  ;  yet  the  lanes  cloven  through  the  kneel 
ing  ranks  were  instantly  refilled. 

The  'tzin  became  anxious. 

"  Look,  Hualpa  !  "  he  said.  "  The  companies  should  be  up 
by  this  time.  Can  you  see  them  1 " 

"  The  smoke  is  too  great ;  I  cannot  see." 

Some  of  his  people  attacking  the  horsemen  began  to 
retreat  behind  the  spearmen.  He  caught  up  the  axe  of 
the  Spaniard,  and  ran  where  the  smoke  was  most  blinding. 
In  a  moment  he  was  at  the  front;  clear,  inspiring,  joyous 
even,  rose  his  cry.  He  rushed  upon  a  bowman,  caught  him 
in  his  arms,  and  bore  him  off  with  all  his  armor  on.  A 


THE  PUBLIC  OPINION  PROCLAIMS  ITSELF. — BATTLE.     433 

hand  red  ready   hands   seized  the  unfortunate.     Again  the 
cry, — 

"  The  'tzin  !     The  'tzin  !  " 

"  Another  victim  for  the  gods  ! "  he  answered.  "  Hold 
fast,  0  my  countrymen  !  Behind  the  strangers  come  the 
companies.  Do  what  I  say,  and  Anahuac  shall  live." 

At  his  word,  they  arose  ;  at  his  word  again,  they  advanced, 
with  levelled  spears.  Faster  the  missiles  smote  them ;  the 
horsemen  raged ;  each  Spaniard  felt,  unless  that  line  were 
broken  his  doom  was  come.  Alvarado  fought,  never  thinking 
of  defence.  The  bowmen  and  arquebusiers  recoiled.  Twice 
Mesa  drew  back  his  guns.  Finally,  Don  Pedro  outdid  him 
self,  and  broke  the  fence  of  spears  ;  his  troop  followed  him  ; 
right  and  left  they  plunged,  killing  at  every  step.  At  places, 
the  onset  of  the  infidels  slackened,  halted ;  then  the  ranks 
began  to  break  into  small  groups  ;  at  last,  they  dropped  their 
arras,  and  fairly  fled,  bearing  the  'tzin  away  in  the  mighty 
press  for  life.  At  their  backs  rode  the  vengeful  horsemen,  and 
behind  the  horsemen,  over  the  dead  and  shrieking  wretches, 
moved  Serrano  and  Mesa. 

And  to  the  very  gates  of  the  palace  the  fight  continued. 
A  ship  in  its  passage  displaces  a  body  of  water ;  behind, 
however,  follows  an  equal  reflux  :  so  with  the  Christians, 
except  that  the  masses  who  closed  in  upon  their  rear  out 
numbered  those  they  put  to  rout  in  front.  Their  rapid 
movement  had  the  appearance  of  flight ;  on  the  other  hand, 
that  of  the  infidels  had  the  appearance  of  pursuit.  The 
sortie  was  not  again  repeated. 

***** 

Seven  days  the  assault  went  on,  —  a  week  of  fighting,  in 
termitted  only  at  night,  under  cover  of  which  the  Aztecs 
carried  off  their  dead  and  wounded,  —  the  former  to  the  lake, 
the  latter  to  the  hospitals.  Among  the  Christians  some  there 
were  who  had  seen  grand  wars ;  some  had  even  served  under 
19  BB 


4:34  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


the  Great  Captain  :  but,  as  they  freely  averred,  never  had 
they  seen  such  courage,  devotion,  and  endurance,  such  in 
difference  to  wounds  and  death,  as  here.  At  times,  the 
struggle  was  hand  to  hand  ;  then,  standing  upon  their  point 
of  honor,  the  infidels  perished  by  scores  in  vain  attempts  to 
take  alive  whom  they  might  easily  have  slain ;  and  this  it 
was,  —  this  fatal  point  of  honor,  —  more  than  superiority  in 
any  respect,  that  made  great  battles  so  bloodless  to  the  Span 
iards.  Still,  nearly  all  of  the  latter  were  wounded,  a  few 
disabled,  and  seven  killed  outright.  Upon  the  Tlascalans 
the  losses  chiefly  fell ;  hundreds  of  them  were  killed ;  hun 
dreds  more  lay  wounded  in  the  chambers  of  the  palace. 

The  evening  of  the  seventh  day,  the  'tzin,  standing  on  the 
western  verge  of  the  teocallis,  from  which  he  had  constantly 
directed  the  assault,  saw  coming  the  results  which  could 
alone  console  him  for  the  awful  sacrifice  of  his  countrymen. 
The  yells  of  the  Tlascalans  were  not  as  defiant  as  formerly ; 
the  men  of  iron,  the  Christians,  were  seen  to  sink  wearily 
down  at  their  posts,  and  sleep,  despite  the  tumult  of  the 
battle  ;  the  guns  were  more  slowly  and  carefully  served  ;  and 
whereas,  before  Cortes  departure  there  had  been  three  meals 
a  day,  now  there  Avere  but  two  :  the  supply  of  provisions 
was  failing.  The  ancient  house,  where  constructed  of  wood, 
showed  signs  of  demolition ;  fuel  was  becoming  scant. 
Where  the  garrison  obtained  its  supply  of  water  was  a  mar 
vel.  He  had  not  then  heard  of  what  Father  Bartolome  after 
wards  celebrated  as  a  miracle  of  Christ,  —  the  accidental  find 
ing  of  a  spring  in  the  middle  of  the  garden. 

Then  the  assault  was  discontinued,  and  a  blockade  estab 
lished.  Another  week,  during  which  nothing  entered  the 
gates  of  the  palace  to  sustain  man  or  beast.  Then  there  was 
but  one  meal  a  day,  and  the  sentinels  on  the  walls  began  to 
Bhow  the  effect. 

One  day  the  main  gate  opened,  and  a  woraan  and  a  man 


THE  PUBLIC  OPINION  PROCLAIMS  ITSELF. — BATTLE.      435 

came  out.  The  'tzin  descended  from  his  perch  to  meet  them. 
At  the  foot  of  the  steps  they  knelt  to  him,  —  the  princess 
Tula  and  the  prince  Io'. 

"  See,  0  'tzin,"  said  the  princess,  "  see  the  king's  signet. 
We  bring  you  a  message  from  him.  He  has  not  wherewith 
to  supply  his  table.  Yesterday  he  was  hungry.  He  bids 
you  re-open  the  market,  and  send  of  the  tributes  of  the  prov 
inces  without  stint,  —  all  that  is  his  kingly  right." 

"  And  if  I  fail  1 "  asked  Guatamozin. 

"  He  said  not  what,  for  no  one  has  ever  failed  his  order." 

And  the  'tzin  looked  at  Io'. 

"  What  shall  I  do,  0  son  of  the  king? " 

In  all  the  fighting,  Io'  had  stayed  in  the  palace  with  his 
father.  Through  the  long  days  he  had  heard  the  voices  of 
the  battle  calling  to  him.  Many  times  he  walked  to  the 
merlons  of  the  azoteas,  and  saw  the  'tzin  on  the  temple, 
or  listened  to  his  familiar  cry  in  the  street.  And  where, 
—  so  ran  his  thought  the  while,  —  where  is  Hualpa  1  Hap 
py  fellow !  What  glory  he  must  have  won,  —  true  war 
rior-glory  to  flourish  in  song  forever  !  A  heroic  jealousy 
would  creep  upon  him,  and  he  would  go  back  miserable  to 
his  chamber. 

"  One  day  more,  0  'tzin,  and  all  there  is  in  the  palace — 
king  and  stranger  alike  —  is  yours,"  Io'  made  answer. 
"  More  I  need  not  say." 

"  Then  you  go  not  back  1 " 

"  No,"  said  Tula. 

"  No,"  said  Io'.  "  I  came  out  to  fight.  Anahuac  is  our 
mother.  Let  us  save  her,  0  'tzin  !  " 

And  the  'tzin  looked  to  the  sun ;  his  eyes  withstood  its 
piercing  splendors  awhile,  then  he  said,  calmly,  — 

"  Go  with  the  princess  Tula  where  she  chooses,  Io' : 
then  come  back.  The  gods  shall  have  one  day  more,  though 
it  be  my  last.  Farewell." 


436  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


They  arose  and  went  away.     He  returned  to  the  azoteas. 

Next  day  there  was  not  one  meal  in  the  palace.  Starva 
tion  had  come.  And  now  the  final  battle,  or  surrender! 
Morning  passed ;  noon  came ;  later,  the  sun  began  to  go 
down  the  sky.  In  the  streets  stood  the  thousands,  —  on  all 
the  housetops,  on  the  temple,  they  stood,  —  Avaiting  and 
looking,  now  at  the  leaguered  house,  now  at  the  'tzin  seated 
at  the  verge  of  the  teocallis,  also  waiting. 

Suddenly  a  procession  appeared  on  the  central  turret  of 
the  palace,  and  in  its  midst,  Montezuma. 

"  The  king !  the  king  ! "  burst  from  every  throat ;  then 
upon  the  multitude  fell  a  silence,  which  could  not  have  been 
deeper  if  the  earth  had  opened  and  swallowed  the  city. 

The  four  heralds  waved  their  silver  wands  ;  the  white  car 
pet  was  spread,  and  the  canopy  brought  and  set  close  by  the 
eastern  battlement  of  the  turret;  then  the  king  came  and 
stood  in  the  shade  before  the  people.  At  sight  of  him 
and  his  familiar  royalty  the  old  love  came  back  to  them, 
and  they  fell  upon  their  knees.  He  spoke,  asserting  his 
privileges  ;  he  bade  them  home,  and  the  army  to  its  quarters. 
He  promised  that  in  a  short  time  the  strangers,  whose  guest 
he  was,  would  leave  the  country  ;  they  were  already  prepar 
ing  to  depart,  he  said.  How  wicked  the  revolt  would  then 
be  !  How  guilty  the  chiefs  who  had  taken  arms  against  his 
order  !  He  spoke  as  one  not  doubtful  of  his  position,  but 
as  king  and  priest,  and  was  successful.  Stunned,  confused, 
uncertain  as  to  duty,  nigh  broken-hearted,  the  fighting 
people  and  disciplined  companies  arose,  and,  like  a  con 
quered  mob,  turned  to  go  away. 

Down  from  his  perch  rushed  the  'tzin.  He  put  himself 
in  the  midst  of  the  retiring  warriors.  He  appealed  to  them 
in  vain.  The  chiefs  gathered  around  him,  and  knelt,  and 
kissed  his  hands,  and  bathed  his  feet  with  their  tears ;  they 
acknowledged  his  heroism,  —  they  would  die  with  him ; 


THE  PUBLIC  OPINION  PROCLAIMS  ITSELF. — BATTLE.      437 

but  while  the  king  lived,  under  the  gods,  he  was  master, 
and  to  disobey  him  was  sacrilege. 

Then  the  'tzin  saw,  as  if  it  were  a  god's  decree,  that  Ana- 
huac  and  Montezuma  could  not  both  live.  ONE  OR  THE 
OTHER  MUST  DIE  !  And  never  so  wise  as  in  his  patience,  he 
submitted,  and  told  them,  — 

"  I  will  send  food  to  the  palace,  and  cease  the  war  now, 
and  until  we  have  the  voice  of  Huitzil'  to  determine  what 
we  shall  do.  Go,  collect  the  companies,  and  put  them  in  their 
quarters.  This  night  we  will  to  Tlalac ;  together,  from  his 
sacred  lips,  we  will  hear  our  fate,  and  our  country's.  Go 
now.  At  midnight  come  to  the  teocallis." 

At  midnight  the  sanctuary  of  Huitzil'  was  crowded ;  so 
was  all  the  azoteas.  Till  the  breaking  of  dawn  the  sacrifices 
continued.  At  last,  the  teotuctli,  with  a  loud  cry,  ran  and 
laid  a  heart  in  the  fire  before  the  idol ;  then  turning  to  the 
spectators,  he  said,  in  a  loud  voice,  — 

"  Let  the  war  go  on !  So  saith  the  mighty  Huitzil' !  "Woe 
to  him  who  refuses  to  hear  !  " 

And  the  heart  that  attested  the  will  was  the  heart  of  a 
Spaniard. 


BOOK   SEVENTH. 

CHAPTEE    I. 

THE  HEART  CAN  BE  WISER  THAN  THE  HEAD. 

I  WILL  now  ask  the  reader  to  make  a  note  of  the  passage 
of  a  fortnight.  By  so  doing  he  will  find  himself  close 
upon  the  24th  of  June,  —  another  memorable  day  in  the 
drama  of  the  conquest. 

'Tzin  Guatamo,  as  is  already  known,  had  many  times 
proven  himself  a  warrior  after  the  manner  of  his  country, 
and,  in  consequence,  had  long  been  the  idol  of  the  army ; 
now  he  gave  token  of  a  ruling  faculty  which  brought  the 
whole  people  to  his  feet ;  so  that  in  Tenochtitlan,  for  the 
first  time  in  her  history,  were  seen  a  sceptre  unknown  to  the 
law  and  a  royalty  not  the  king's. 

He  ruled  in  the  valley  everywhere,  except  in  the  palace 
of  Axaya' ;  and  around  that  he  built  works,  and  set  guards, 
and  so  contrived  that  nothing  passed  in  or  out  without  his 
permission.  His  policy  was  to  wait  patiently,  and  in  the 
mean  time  organize  the  nation  for  war  ;  and  the  nation  obeyed 
him,  seeing  that  in  obedience  there  was  life  ;  such,  moreover, 
was  the  will  of  Huitzil'. 

As  may  be  thought,  the  Christians  thus  pent  up  fared 
illy ;  in  fact,  they  would  have  suffered  before  the  fortnight 
was  gone  but  for  the  king,  who  stinted  himself  and  his 
household  in  order  to  divide  with  his  keepers  the  supplies 
sent  in  for  his  use. 

In    the    estimation  of  the  people  of  the  empire,    it  was 


THE  HEART  CAN  BE  WISER  THAN  THE  HEAD.      439 

great  glory  to  have  shut  so  many  teules  in  a  palace,  and  held 
them  there ;  but  the  success  did  not  deceive  the  'tzin  :  in  his 
view,  that  achievement  was  not  the  victory,  but  only  the 
beginning  of  the  war ;  every  hour  he  had  news  of  Malinche, 
the  real  antagonist,  who  had  the  mind,  the  will,  and  the  hand 
of  a  warrior,  and  was  coming  with  another  army,  more 
numerous,  if  not  braver,  than  the  first  one.  In  pure,  strong 
love  there  is  an  element  akin  to  the  power  of  prophecy,  — 
something  that  gives  the  spirit  eyes  to  see  what  is  to  hap 
pen.  Such  an  inspiration  quickened  the  'tzin,  and  told  him 
Anahuac  was  not  saved,  though  she  should  be  :  if  not,  the 
conquerors  should  take  an  empty  prize  ;  he  would  leave  them 
nothing,  —  so  he  swore,  —  neither  gods,  gold,  slaves,  city,  nor 
people.  He  set  about  the  great  idea  by  inviting  the  New 
World  —  I  speak  as  a  Spaniard  —  to  take  part  in  the  struggle. 
And  he  was  answered.  To  the  beloved  city,  turned  into  a 
rendezvous  for  the  purpose,  flocked  the  fighting  vassals  of  the 
great  caciques,  the  men  of  the  cities,  and  their  dependencies, 
the  calpulli,  or  tribes  of  the  loyal  provinces,  and,  mixed  with 
them,  wild-eyed  bands  from  the  Unknown,  the  wildernesses, 
—  in  all,  a  multitude  such  as  had  never  been  seen  in  the  val 
ley.  At  the  altars  he  had  but  one  prayer,  "  Time,  time,  O 
gods  of  my  fathers  !  Give  me  time  ! "  He  knew  the  differ 
ence  between  a  man  and  a  soldier,  and  that,  likewise,  be 
tween  a  multitude  and  an  army.  As  he  used  the  word,  time 
meant  organization  and  discipline.  He  not  only  prayed,  he 
worked ;  and  into  his  work,  as  into  his  prayers,  he  poured 
all  his  soul. 

The  organization  was  simple  :  first,  a  company  of  three  or 
four  hundred  men  ;  next  an  army  of  thirty  or  forty  com 
panies, —  a  system  which  allowed  the  preservation  of  the 
identity  of  tribes  and  cities.  The  companies  of  Cholula,  for 
example,  were  separate  from  those  of  Tezcuco ;  while  the 
Acolmanes  marched  and  fought  side  by  side  with  the  Coato 


440  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


pecs,  but  under  their  own  chiefs  and  flags.  The  system  also 
gave  him  a  number  of  armies,  and  lie  divided  them,  —  one  to 
raise  supplies,  another  to  bring  the  supplies  to  the  depots, 
a  third  to  prepare  material  of  war ;  the  fourth  was  the  ac 
tive  or  fighting  division ;  and  each  was  subject  to  take  the 
place  of  the  other.  To  the  labor  of  so  many  hands,  sys 
tematized  and  industriously  exerted,  though  for  a  fortnight, 
almost  everything  is  possible.  One  strong  will,  absolutely 
operative  over  thousands,  is  nearer  omnipotency  than  any 
thing  else  human. 

The  climate  of  the  valley,  milder  and  more  equable  than 
that  of  Naples,  permits  the  bivouac  in  all  seasons.  The 
sierra  west  of  the  capital,  and  bending  around  it  like  a  half- 
drawn  bow,  is  marked  on  its  interior,  or  city  side  by  verdant 
and  watered  vales ;  these  were  seized ;  and  the  bordering 
cliffs,  which  theretofore  had  shaded  the  toiling  husbandman, 
or  been  themselves  the  scenes  of  the  hunter's  daring,  now 
hid  the  hosts  of  New  "World's  men,  in  the  bivouac,  biding 
the  day  of  battle. 

War,  good  reader,  never  touches  anything  and  leaves  it  as 
it  was.  And  the  daughter  of  the  lake,  fair  Tenochtitlan, 
was  no  exception  to  the  law.  The  young  master,  having  re 
duced  the  question  of  strategy  to  the  formula,  —  a  street  or 
a  plain,  chose  the  street,  and  thereby  dedicated  the  city  to 
all  of  ruin  or  horror  the  destroyer  could  bring.  Not  long, 
therefore,  until  its  presence  could  have  been  detected  by  the 
idlest  glance  :  the  streets  were  given  up  to  the  warriors  ;  the 
palaces  were  deserted  by  families ;  houses  conveniently 
situated  for  the  use  were  turned  into  forts ;  the  shrubbery 
garnishing  roofs  that  dominated  the  main  streets  concealed 
heaps  of  stones  made  ready  for  the  hand ;  the  bridges  were 
taken  up,  or  put  in  condition  to  be  raised  ;  the  canoes  on  the 
lakes  were  multiplied,  and  converted  to  the  public  service ; 
the  great  markets  were  suspended ;  even  the  sacred  temples 


THE   HEART  CAN  BE  WISER  THAN  THE  HEAD.      441 

were  changed  into  vast  arsenals.  When  the  'tzin,  going 
hither  and  thither,  never  idle,  observed  the  change,  he  would 
sigh,  but  say  to  himself,  "  'T  is  well.  If  we  win,  we  can 
restore  ;  if  we  lose,  —  if  we  lose,  —  then,  to  the  strangers, 
waste,  to  the  waters,  welcome  !  " 

And  up  and  down,  from  city  to  bivouac  and  back  again, 
passed  the  minstrels,  singing  of  war,  and  the  pabas,  pro 
claiming  the  oracles  and  divine  promises ;  and  the  services 
in  the  temples  were  unintermitted  ;  those  in  the  teocallis 
were  especially  grand ;  the  smoke  from  its  turrets  overhung 
the  city,  and  at  night  the  fire  of  Huitzil',  a  new  star  redden 
ing  in  the  sky,  was  seen  from  the  remotest  hamlet  in  the 
valley.  The  'tzin  had  faith  in  moral  effects,  and  he  studied 
them,  and  was  successful.  The  army  soon  came  to  have, 
like  himself,  but  one  prayer,  —  "  Set  us  before  the  strangers ; 
let  us  fight !  " 

And  the  time  they  prayed  for  was  come. 

.##*## 

The  night  of  the  23d  of  June  was  pleasant  as  night  can  be 
in  that  region  of  pleasant  nights.  The  sky  was  clear  and 
starry.  The  breeze  abroad  brought  coolness  to  outliers  on 
the  housetops,  without  threshing  the  lake  to  the  disturbance 
of  its  voyageurs. 

Up  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  little  sea  lay  a  clii- 
nampa  at  anchor.  Over  its  landing,  at  the  very  edge  of  the 
water,  burned  a  flambeau  of  resinous  pine.  Two  canoes, 
richly  decorated,  swung  at  the  mooring.  The  path  from  the 
landing  to  the  pavilion  was  carpeted,  and  lighted  by  lamps 
pendent  in  the  adjoining  shrubbery.  In  the  canoes  the 
slaves  lay  at  rest,  talking  idly,  and  in  low  voices  crooning 
Indian  songs.  Close  by  the  landing,  on  a  bench,  over  which 
swayed  the  leaves  of  an  immense  banana-tree,  rested  a 
couple  of  warriors,  silent,  and  nodding,  as  it  were,  to  the 
nodding  leaves.  From  the  rising  to  the  setting  of  the  day's 

19* 


442  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


sun,  many  a  weary  league,  from  the  city  to  the  vales  of  the 
Sierra  in  which  bivouacked  the  hope  of  Anahuac,  had  they 
travelled,  —  Hualpa  and  Io'.  One  familiar  with  the  streets 
in  these  later  days,  at  sight  of  them  would  have  said, 
"Beware!  the 'tzin  is  hereaway."  The  three  were  almost 
as  one,  —  so  had  their  friendship  grown.  The  pavilion,  a 
circular  canopy,  spread  like  a  Bedouin's  tent,  was  brightly 
lighted ;  and  there,  in  fact,  was  the  'tzin,  with  Tula  and 
Yeteve,  the  priestess. 

Once  before,  I  believe,  I  described  this  pavilion  ;  and  now 
I  know  the  imagination  of  the  reader  will  give  the  floating 
garden  richer  colors  than  lie  within  compass  of  my  pen  ; 
will  surround  it  with  light,  and  with  air  delicious  with  the 
freshness  of  the  lake  and  the  exhalations  of  the  flowers  ; 
will  hover  about  the  guardian  palm  and  willow  trees,  the 
latter  with  boughs  lithe  and  swinging,  and  leaves  long  and 
fine  as  a  woman's  locks  ;  Avill  linger  about  the  retreat,  I 
say,  and,  in  thought  of  its  fitness  for  meeting  of  lovers,  ad 
mit  the  poetry  and  respect  the  passion  of  the  noble  Aztec. 

Within,  the  furniture  was  as  formerly  ;  there  were  yet  the 
carven  stools,  the  table  with  its  bowl-like  top,  now  a  mass 
of  flowers,  a  couch  draped  with  brilliant  plumage,  the  floor 
covered  with  matting  of  woven  grasses,  the  hammock,  and 
the  bird-cage,  —  all  as  when  we  first  saw  them.  ]STenetzin 
was  absent,  and  alas  !  might  never  come  again. 

And  if  we  enter  now,  we  shall  find  the  'tzin  standing  a 
little  apart  from  Tula,  who  is  in  the  hammock,  with  Yeteve 
by  her  side.  On  a  stool  at  his  feet  is  a  waiter  of  ebony, 
with  spoons  of  tortoise-shell,  and  some  xicaras,  or  cups,  used 
for  chocolate. 

Their  faces  are  grave  and  earnest. 

"  And  Malinche  ?  "  asked  Tula,  as  if  pursuing  a  question. 

"  The  gods  have  given  me  time ;  I  am  ready  for  him," 
he  replied. 


THE  HEART  CAN  BE  WISER  THAN  THE  HEAD.      443 

"  When  will  he  come  ?  " 

"Yesterday,  about  noon,  he  set  out  from  Tezcuco,  by  way 
of  the  shore  of  the  lake;  to-night  he  lodges  in  Iztapalapan ; 
to-morrow,  inarching  by  the  old  causeway,  he  will  re-enter 
the  city." 

"  Poor,  poor  country  !  "  she  said,  after  a  long  silence. 

The  words  touched  him,  and  he  replied,  in  a  low  voice, 
"  You  have  a  good  heart,  O  Tula,  —  a  good  heart  and  true. 
Your  words  were  what  I  repeat  every  hour  in  the  day.  You 
were  seeing  what  I  see  all  the  time  —  " 

"The  battle!"  she  said,  shuddering. 

"Yes.  I  wish  it  could  be  avoided;  its  conditions  are 
such  that  against  the  advantage  of  arms  I  can  only  oppose 
the  advantage  of  numbers ;  so  that  the  dearest  of  all  things 
will  be  the  cheapest.  I  must  take  no  account  of  lives.  I 
have  seen  the  streets  run  wifli  blood  already,  and  now,  — 
Enough  !  we  must  do  what  the  gods  decree.  Yet  the 
slaughter  shall  not  be,  as  heretofore,  on  one  side  alone." 

She  looked  at  him  inquiringly. 

"  You  know  the  custom  of  our  people  to  take  prisoners 
rather  than  kill  in  battle.  As  against  the  Tlascalans  and 
tribes,  that  was  well  enough  ;  but  new  conditions  require 
new  laws,  and  my  order  now  is,  Save  nothing  but  the 
arms  and  armor  of  the  strangers.  Life  for  life  as  against 
Malinche  !  And  I  could  conquer  him,  but  —  " 

He  stopped,  and  their  glances  met,  —  his  full  of  fire,  hers 
sad  and  thoughtful. 

"  Ah,  Tula  !  your  woman's  soul  prompts  you  already  of 
whom  I  would  speak,  —  the  king." 

"  Spare  me,"  she  said,  covering  her  face  with  her  hands. 
"  I  am  his  child  ;  I  love  him  yet." 

"  So  I  know,"  he  replied  ;  "  and  I  would  not  have  you  do 
else.  The  love  is  proof  of  fitness  to  be  loved.  Nature  cannot 
be  silenced.  He  is  not  as  near  to  me  as  to  you ;  yet  I  feel  tho 


444  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


impulse  that  moves  you,  though  in  a  less  degree.  In  memory, 
he  is  a  part  of  my  youth.  For  that  matter,  who  does  not  love 
him1?  He  has  charmed  the  strangers;  even  the  guards  at 
his  chamber-door  have  been  known  to  weep  at  sight  of  his 
sorrow.  And  the  heroes  who  so  lately  died  before  his  prison 
gates,  did  not  they  love  him  1  And  those  who  will  die  to 
morrow  and  the  next  day,  what  else  may  be  said  of  them  ] 
In  arms  here,  see  the  children  of  the  valley.  What  seek 
they  ]  In  their  eyes,  he  is  Anahuac.  And  yet  —  " 

He  paused  again  ;  her  hands  had  fallen ;  her  cheeks  glis 
tened  with  tears. 

"  If  I  may  not  speak  plainly  now,  I  may  not  ever. 
Strengthen  yourself  to  hear  me,  and  hear  me  pitifully.  To 
begin,  you  know  that  I  have  been  using  the  king's  power 
without  his  permission,  —  that,  I  say,  you  know,  and  have 
forgiven,  because  the  usurpation  was  not  of  choice  but  neces 
sity,  and  to  save  the  empire ;  but  you  will  hear  now,  for  the 
first  time  probably,  that  I  could  have  been  king  in  fact." 

Her  gaze  became  intent,  and  she  listened  breathlessly. 

"  Three  times,"  he  continued,  "  three  times  have  the  ca 
ciques,  for  themselves  and  the  army,  offered  me  the  crown. 
The  last  time,  they  were  accompanied  by  the  electors,*  and 
deputations  from  all  the  great  cities." 

"  And  you  refused,"  she  said,  confidently. 

"  Yes.  I  will  not  deny  the  offer  was  tempting,  —  that  for 
the  truth.  I  thought  of  it  often ;  and  at  such  times  came 
revenge,  and  told  me  I  had  been  wronged,  and  ambition, 
whispering  of  glory,  and,  with  ready  subtlety,  making  ac 
ceptance  appear  a  duty.  But,  Tula,  you  prevailed  ;  your  love 
was  dearer  to  me  than  the  crown.  For  your  sake,  I  refused 
the  overture.  You  never  said  so,  —  there  was  no  need  of 
the  saying,  —  yet  I  knew  you  could  never  be  queen  while 
your  father  lived." 
*  The  monarchy  was  elective.  —  PRESCOTT,  Conq.  of  Mexico,  Vol.  I.,  p.  24 


THE  HEART   CAN  BE  WISER  THAN  THE   HEAD.      445 

Not  often  has  a  woman  heard  such  a  story  of  love,  or 
been  given  such  proofs  of  devotion ;  her  face  mantled,  and 
she  dropped  her  gaze,  saying,  — 

"  Better  to  be  so  loved  than  to  be  queen.  If  not  here,  O 
'tzin,  look  for  reward  in  the  Sun.  Surely,  the  gods  take 
note  of  such  things  !  " 

"  Your  approval  is  my  full  reward,"  he  replied.  "  But  hear 
me  further.  What  I  have  said  was  easy  to  say  ;  that  which 
I  go  to  now  is  hard,  and  requires  all  my  will ;  for  the  utter 
ance  may  forfeit  not  merely  the  blessing  just  given  me,  but 
your  love,  —  more  precious,  as  I  have  shown,  than  the  crown. 
You  were  in  the  palace  the  day  the  king  appeared  and 
bade  the  people  home.  The  strangers  were  in  my  hand  at 
the  time.  0,  a  glad  time,  —  so  long  had  we  toiled,  so  many 
had  died  !  Then  he  came,  and  snatched  away  our  triumph. 
I  have  not  forgotten,  I  never  can  forget  the  disappoint 
ment.  In  all  the  labor  of  the  preparation  since,  I  have 
seen  the  scene,  sometimes  as  a  threat,  sometimes  as  a  warning, 
always  a  recurring  dream  whose  dreaming  leaves  me  less 
resolved  in  the  course  I  am  running.  Continually  I  find 
myself  saying  to  myself,  '  The  work  is  all  in  vain  ;  what 
has  been  will  be  again ;  while  he  lives,  you  cannot  win.' 
0  Tula,  such  influence  was  bad  enough  of  itself.  Hear  now 
how  the  gods  came  in  to  direct  me.  Last  night  I  was  at 
the  altar  of  HuitziT,  praying,  when  the  teotuctli  appeared, 
and  said,  "Tzin  Guatamo,  pray  you  for  your  country  ] '  '  For 
country  and  king,'  I  answered.  He  laid  his  hand  upon  my 
shoulder,  '  If  you  seek  the  will  of  the  god  with  intent  to  do 
what  he  imposes,  hear  then  :  The  king  is  the  shield  of  the 
strangers  ;  they  are  safe  while  he  lives ;  and  if  he  lives,  Ana- 
huac  dies.  Let  him  who  leads  choose  between  them.  So  the 
god  says.  Consider  ! '  He  was  gone  before  I  could  answer. 
Since  that  I  have  been  like  one  moving  in  a  cloud,  seeing 
nothing  clearly,  and  the  duty  least  of  all.  When  I  should  be 


446  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


strongest,  I  am  weakest.  My  spirit  faints  under  the  load.  If 
the  king  lives,  the  empire  dies  :  if  it  is  to  die,  why  the  bat 
tle,  and  its  sacrifices  1  This  night  have  I  in  which  to  choose  ; 
to-morrow,  Malinche  and  action  !  Help  me,  0  Tula,  help  me 
to  do  right !  Love  of  country,  of  king,  and  of  me,  —  you 
have  them  all.  Speak." 

And  she  answered  him,  — 

"  I  may  not  doubt  that  you  love  me  ;  you  have  told  me 
so  many  times,  but  never  as  to-night.  I  thank  you,  0  'tzin  ! 
Your  duties  are  heavy.  I  do  not  wonder  that  you  bend  under 
them.  I  might  say  they  are  yours  by  gift  of  the  gods,  and 
not  to  be  divided  with  another,  not  even  with  me  ;  but  I  will 
give  you  love  for  love,  and,  as  I  hope  to  share  your  fortunes, 
I  will  share  your  trials.  I  am  a  woman,  without  judgment 
by  which  to  answer  you ;  from  my  heart  I  will  answer." 

"  From  your  heart  be  it,  0  Tula." 

"  Has  the  king  heard  the  things  of  which  you  have 
spoken  1 " 

"  I  cannot  say." 

"  Does  he  know  you  were  offered  the  crown  1 " 

"  No  •  the  offer  was  treason." 

"  Ah,  poor  king,  proud  father  !  The  love  of  the  people, 
that  of  which  you  were  proudest,  is  lost.  What  wretched 
ness  awaits  you  ! " 

She  bowed  her  head,  and  there  was  a  silence  broken  only 
by  her  sobs.  The  grief  spent  itself;  then  she  said,  ear 
nestly,  — 

"  I  know  him.  He,  too,  is  a  lover  of  Anahuac.  More 
than  once  he  has  exposed  himself  to  death  for  her.  Such 
loves  age  not,  nor  do  they  die,  except  with  the  hearts  they 
animate.  There  was  a  time  —  but  now —  No  matter,  I 
will  try.  '  Let  him  who  leads  choose '  :  was  not  that  the 
decree,  good  'tzin  ] " 

"  Yes,"  he  replied. 


THE  HEART  CAN  BE  WISER  THAN  THE  HEAD.   447 

"  Must  the  choice  be  made  to-night  1  " 

"  I  may  delay  until  to-morrow." 

"  To-morrow  ;  what  time  ?  " 

"  Malinche  will  pass  the  causeway  in  the  cool  of  the 
morning  ;  by  noon  he  will  have  joined  his  people  in  the  old 
palace  ;  the  decision  must  then  be  made." 

"  Can  you  set  me  down  at  the  gate  before  he  passes  in  1  " 

The  'tzin  started.     "  Of  the  old  palace  1  "  he  asked. 

"  I  wish  to  see  the  king." 

"For  what  1" 

"  To  tell  him  the  things  you  have  told  me  to-night." 


"  Yes." 

His  face  clouded  with  dissatisfaction. 

"  Yes,"  she  continued,  calmly  ;  "  that,  as  becomes  a  king, 
he  may  choose  which  shall  live,  —  himself  or  Anahuac." 

So  she  answered  the  'tzin's  appeal,  and  the  answer  was 
from  her  heart  ;  and,  seeing  of  what  heroism  she  dreamed, 
his  dark  eyes  glowed  with  admiration.  Yet  his  reply  was 
full  of  hopelessness. 

"  I  give  you  honor,  Tula,  —  I  give  you  honor  for  the 
thought  ;  but  forgive  me  if  I  think  you  beguiled  by  your 
love.  There  was  a  time  when  he  was  capable  of  what  you 
have  imagined.  Alas  !  he  is  changed  ;  he  will  never  choose, 
-  —  never  !  " 

She  looked  at  him  reproachfully,  and  said,  with  a  sad 
smile,  "  Such  changes  are  not  always  of  years.  Who  is  he 
that  to-night,  only  to-night,  driven  by  a  faltering  of  the 
will,  which  in  the  king,  my  father,  is  called  weakness, 
brought  himself  prayerfully  to  a  woman's  feet,  and  begged 
her  to  divide  with  him  a  burden  imposed  upon  his  con 
science  by  a  decree  of  the  gods  1  Who  is  he,  indeed  ] 
Study  yourself,  O  'tzin,  and  commiserate  him,  and  bethink 
you,  if  he  choose  not,  it  will  be  yours  to  choose  for  him. 


448  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


His  duty  will  then  become  yours,  to  be  done  without  re 
morse,  and  —  " 

She  hesitated,  and  held  out  her  hand,  as  if  to  say,  "  And 
I  can  love  you  still." 

He  caught  the  meaning  of  the  action,  and  went  to  her, 
and  kissed  her  forehead  tenderly,  and  said,  — 

"  I  see  now  that  the  heart  can  be  wiser  than  the  head. 
Have  your  way.  I  will  set  you  down  at  the  gate,  and  of 
war  there  shall  be  neither  sign  nor  sound  until  you  re 
turn." 

"  Until  I  return  !  May  be  I  cannot.  Malinche  may  hold 
me  prisoner." 

From  love  to  war,  —  the  step  was  short. 

"  True,"  he  said.  "  The  armies  will  await  my  signal  of 
attack,  and  they  must  not  wait  upon  uncertainties." 

He  arose  and  paced  the  floor,  and  when  he  paused  he 
said,  firmly,  — 

"  I  will  set  you  down  at  the  gate  in  the  early  morning, 
that  you  may  see  your  father  before  Malinche  sees  him. 
And  when  you  speak  to  him,  ask  not  if  I  may  make  the 
war :  on  that  I  am  resolved ;  but  tell  him  what  no 
other  can,  —  that  I  look  forward  to  the  time  when  Ma 
linche,  like  the  Tonatiah,  will  bring  him  from  his  cham 
ber,  and  show  him  to  the  people,  to  distract  them  again. 
And  when  you  have  told  him  that,  speak  of  what  the  gods 
have  laid  upon  me,  and  then  say  that  I  say,  <  Comes  he  so, 
whether  of  choice  or  by  force,  the  dread  duty  shall  be  done. 
The  gods  helping  me,  I  will  strike  for  Anahuac.'  And  if  he 
ask  what  I  would  have  him  do,  answer,  A  king's  duty  to 
his  people,  —  die  that  they  may  live  !  " 

Tula  heard  him  to  the  end,  and  buried  her  face  in  her 
hands,  and  there  was  a  long  silence. 

"  Poor  king  !  poor  father !  "  she  said  at  last.  "  For  me  to 
ask  him  to  die  !  A  heavy,  heavy  burden,  0  'tzin !  " 


THE  CONQUEROR  ON  THE  CAUSEWAY  AGAIN.       449 

"  The  gods  help  you  !  "  he  replied. 

"  If  Malinche  hold  me  prisoner,  how  will  the  answer  ayail 


you 


1" 


"  Have  you  not  there  two  scarfs,  —  the  one  green,  the  other 
white?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Take  them  with  you,  and  from  the  roof,  if  your  father 
resolve  not,  show  the  green  one.  Alas,  then,  for  me  !  If, 
in  its  stead,  you  wave  the  white  one,  I  shall  know  that  he 
comes,  if  so  he  does,  by  force,  and  that  "  —  his  voice  trem 
bled  —  "  it  is  his  will  Anahiiac  should  live" 

She  listened  wistfully,  and  replied,  "  I  understand  : 
Anahuac  saved  means  Montezuma  lost.  But  doubt  him 
not,  doubt  him  not;  he  will  remember  his  glory's  day, 

and  die  as  he  has  lived." 

***** 

An  hour  later,  and  the  canoe  of  the  'tzin  passed  into  one 
of  the  canals  of  the  city.  The  parting  on  the  chinampa  may 
be  imagined.  Love  will  have  its  way  even  in  war. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  CONQUEROR  ON  THE  CAUSEWAY  AGAIN. 

AS  predicted  by  the  'tzin,  the  Spaniards  set  out  early 
next  morning  —  the    morning  of  the  24th  of  June 
—  by  the  causeway  from  Iztapalapan,  already  notable  in  this 
story.  , 

At  their  head  rode  the  Senor  Hernan,  silent,  thoughtful, 
and  not  well  pleased  ;  pondering,  doubtless,  the  misconduct 
of  the  adelantado  in  the  old  palace  to  which  he  was  march 
ing,  and  the  rueful  condition  it  might  impose  upon  the  expe 
dition. 

cc 


450  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


The  cavaliers  next  in  the  order  of  march,  which  was  that 
of  battle,  rode  and  talked  as  men  are  wont  when  drawing 
nigh  the  end  of  a  long  and  toilsome  task.  This  the  leader 
at  length  interrupted,  — 

"  Senores,  come  near.  Yonder  ye  may  see  the  gate  of 
Xoloc,"  he  continued,  when  they  were  up.  "  If  the  heathen 
captains  think  to  obstruct  our  entry,  they  would  do  well, 
now  that  our  ships  lie  sunken  in  the  lake,  to  give  us  battle 
there.  Eide  we  forward  to  explore  what  preparations,  if  any, 
they  have  made." 

So  they  rode,  at  quickened  pace,  arms  rattling,  spurs  jin 
gling,  and  found  the  gate  deserted. 

"  Viva  companeros  ! "  cried  Cortes,  riding  through  the 
shadow  of  the  battlements.  "  Give  the  scabbards  their 
swords  again.  There  will  be  no  battle ;  the  way  to  the  pal 
ace  is  open."  And,  waiting  till  the  column  was  at  their  heels, 
he  turned  to  the  trumpeters,  and  shouted,  cheerily,  "  Ola,  ye 
lazy  knaves !  Since  the  march  began,  ye  have  not  been 
heard  from.  Out  now,  and  blow  !  Blow  as  if  ye  were  each 
a  Eoland,  with  Eoland's  horn.  Blow  merrily  a  triumphal 
march,  that  our  brethren  in  the  leaguer  ahead  may  know 
deliverance  at  hand." 

The  feeling  of  the  chief  spread  rapidly ;  first,  to  the 
cavaliers ;  then  to  the  ranks,  where  soon  there  were  shout 
ing  and  singing ;  and  simultaneous  with  the  trumpetry,  over 
the  still  waters  sped  the  minstrelsy  of  the  Tlascalans.  Ere 
long  they  had  the  answer  of  the  garrison ;  every  gun  in 
the  palace  thundered  welcome. 

Cortes  settled  in  his  saddle  smiling  :  he  was  easy  in  mind ; 
the  junction  with  Alvarado  was  assured  ;  the  city  and  the 
king  were  his,  and  he  could  now  hold  them ;  nevertheless, 
back  of  his  smile  there  was  much  thought.  True,  his  ene 
mies  in  Spain  would  halloo  spitefully  over  the  doughty 
deed  he  had  just  done  down  in  Cempoalla.  No  matter. 


THE  CONQUEROR  ON  THE  CAUSEWAY  AGAIN.   451 

The  Court  and  the  Council  had  pockets,  and  he  could  fill  them 
with  gold,  —  gold  by  the  caravel,  if  necessary  ;  and  for  the 
pacification  of  his  most  Catholic  master,  the  Emperor,  had 
he  not  the  New  World '?  And  over  the  schedule  of  guerdons 
sure  to  follow  such  a  gift  to  such  a  master  he  lingered  com 
placently,  as  well  he  might.  Patronage,  and  titles,  and  high 
employments,  and  lordly  estates  danced  before  his  eyes,  as 
lanced  the  sun's  glozing  upon  the  crinkling  water. 

One  thought,  however,  —  only  one,  —  brought  him  trou 
ble.  The  soldiers  of  Narvaez  were  new  men,  ill-disciplined, 
footsore,  grumbling,  discontented,  disappointed.  He  remem 
bered  the  roseate  pictures  by  which  they  had  been  won 
from  their  leader  before  the  battle  was  joined.  'The 
Empire  was  already  in  possession ;  there  would  be  no 
fighting ;  the  march  would  be  a  promenade  through  grand 
landscapes,  and  by  towns  and  cities,  whose  inhabitants 
would  meet  them  in  processions,  loaded  with  fruits  and 
flowers,  tributes  of  love  and  fear,'  —  so  he  had  told  them 
through  his  spokesmen,  Olmedo,  the  priest,  and  Duero,  the 
secretary.  Nor  failed  he  now  to  recall  the  chief  inducements 
in  the  argument,  —  the  charms  of  the  heathen  capital,  and  the 
easy  life  there  waiting,  —  a  life  whose  sole  vexation  would 
be  apportionment  of  the  lands  conquered  and  the  gold  gath 
ered.  And  the  wonderful  city,  —  here  it  was,  placid  as 
ever  ;  and  neither  the  valley,  nor  the  lake,  nor  the  summer 
ing  climate,  nor  the  abundance  of  which  he  had  spoken, 
failed  his  description ;  nothing  was  wanting  but  the  people, 
THE  PEOPLE  !  Where  were  they  ?  He  looked  at  the  prize 
ahead ;  gyres  of  smoke,  slowly  rising  and  purpling  as  they 
rose,  were  all  the  proofs  of  life  within  its  walls.  He  swept 
the  little  sea  with  angry  eyes  ;  in  the  distance  a  canoe,  sta 
tionary,  and  with  a  solitary  occupant,  and  he  a  spy !  And 
this  was  the  grand  reception  promised  the  retainers  of 
Narvaez !  He  struck  his  mailed  thigh  with  his  mailed  hand 


452  THE   FAIR   GOD. 


fiercely,  and,  turning  in  his  saddle,  looked  back.  The  col 
umn  was  moving  forward  compactly,  the  new  men  distin 
guishable  by  the  freshness  of  their  apparel  and  equipments. 
"  Bien  ! "  he  said,  with  a  grim  smile  and  cunning  solace, 
"  Bien  !  they  will  fight  for  life,  if  not  for  majesty  and  me." 

Close  by  the  wall  Father  Bartolom6  overtook  him,  and, 
after  giving  rein  to  his  mule,  and  readjusting  his  hood,  said^ 
gravely,  "  If  the  tinkle  of  my  servant's  bell  disturb  not  thy 
musing,  Senor,  — - 1  have  been  through  the  files,  and  bring 
thee  wot  of  the  new  men." 

"  Welcome,  father,"  said  Cortes,  laughing.  "  I  am  not  an 
evil  spirit  to  fly  the  exorcisement  of  thy  bell,  not  I ;  and  so 
I  bid  thee  welcome.  But  as  for  whereof  thou  comest  to 
tell,  no  more,  I  pray.  I  know  of  what  the  varlets  speak. 
And  as  I  am  a  Christian,  I  blame  them  not.  We  promised 
them  much,  and  —  this  is  all :  fair  sky,  fair  land,  strange 
city,  —  and  all  without  people  !  Eueful  enough,  I  grant ; 
but,  as  matter  more  serious,  what  say  the  veterans  ]  Came 
they  within  thy  soundings  1 " 

"  Thou  mayest  trust  them,  Senor.  Their  tongues  go  with 
their  swords.  They  return  to  the  day  of  our  first  entry  here, 
and  with  excusable  enlargement  tell  what  they  saw  then  in 
contrast  with  the  present." 

"  And  whom  blame  they  for  the  failure  now  ? " 

"The  captain  Alvarado." 

Cortes'  brows  dropped,  and  he  became  thoughtful  again, 
and  in  such  temper  rode  into  the  city. 

Within  the  walls,  everywhere  the  visitors  looked,  were 
signs  of  life,  but  nowhere  a  living  thing ;  neither  on  the 
street,  nor  in  the  houses,  nor  on  the  housetops,  —  not 
even  a  bird  in  the  sky.  A  stillness  possessed  the  place, 
peculiar  in  that  it  seemed  to  assert  a  presence,  and  palpably 
lurk  in  the  shade,  lie  on  the  doorsteps,  issue  from  the  win 
dows,  and  pervade  the  air ;  giving  notice,  so  that  not  a  man, 


THE  CONQUEROR  ON  THE  CAUSEWAY  AGAIN.        453 

new  or  veteran,  but  was  conscious  that,  in  some  way,  he  was 
menaced  with  danger.  There  is  nothing-  so  appalling  as  the 
unaccountable  absence  of  life  in  places  habitually  populous ; 
nothing  so  desolate  as  a  deserted  city. 

"  For  Dios  ! "  said  Olmedo,  toying  with  the  beads  at  his 
side,  "  I  had  rather  the  former  reception  than  the  present. 
Pleasanter  the  sullen  multitude  than  the  silence  without  the 
multitude." 

Cortes  made  him  no  answer,  but  rode  on  abstractedly, 
until  stopped  by  his  advance-guard. 

"At  rest!"  he  said,  angrily.  "Had  ye  the  signal1?  I 
heard  it  not." 

"  Nor  did  we,  Sefior,"  replied  the  officer  in  charge.  "  But, 
craving  thy  pardon,  approach,  and  see  what  the  infidels  have 
done  here." 

Cortes  drew  near,  and  found  himself  on  the  brink  of  the 
first  canal.  He  swore  a  great  oath  ;  the  bridge  was  dis 
mantled.  On  the  hither  side,  however,  lay  the  timbers, 
frame  and  floor.  The  tamanes  detailed  from  the  guns  re 
placed  them. 

"  Bartolome,  good  father,"  said  Cortes,  confidentially, 
when  the  march  was  resumed,  "  thou  hast  a  commendable 
habit  of  holding  what  thou  hearest,  and  therefore  I  shame 
not  to  confess  that  I,  too,  prefer  the  first  reception.  The 
absence  of  the  heathen  and  the  condition  of  yon  bridge 
are  parts  of  one  plan,  and  signs  certain  of  battle  now  ready 
to  be  delivered." 

"If  it  be  God's  will,  amen ! "  replied  the  priest,  calmly. 
"  We  are  stronger  than  when  we  went  out." 

"  So  is  the  enemy,  for  he  hath  organized  his  people.  The 
hordes  that  stared  at  us  so  stupidly  when  we  first  came  — 
be  the  curse  of  the  saints  upon  them !  —  are  now  fighting 
men." 

Olmedo  searched  his  face,  and  said,  coldly,  "  To  doubt 
is  to  dread  the  result." 


454  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

"  Nay,  by  my  conscience  !  I  neither  doubt  nor  dread.  Yet 
I  hold  it  not  unseemly  to  confess  that  I  had  rather  meet  the 
brunt  on  the  firm  land,  with  room  for  what  the  occasion 
offers.  I  like  not  yon  canal,  Avith  its  broken  bridge,  too 
wide  for  horse,  too  deep  for  weighted  man ;  it  putteth  us  to 
disadvantage,  and  hath  a  hateful  reminder  of  the  brigantines, 
which,  as  thou  mayest  remember,  we  left  at  anchor,  mis 
tresses  of  the  lake ;  in  our  absence  they  have  been  lost,  —  a 
most  measureless  folly,  father  !  But  let  it  pass,  let  it  pass  ! 
The  Mother  —  blessed  be  her  name  !  —  hath  not  forsaken  us. 
Montezurna  is  ours,  and  — 

"  He  is  victory,"  said  Olmedo,  zealously. 

"  He  is  the  New  World  !  "  answered  Cortes. 

And  so  it  chanced  that  the  poor  king  was  centre  of 
thought  for  both  the  'tzin  and  his  enemy,  —  the  dread  of  one 
and  the  hope  of  the  other. 


CHAPTER    III. 

LA    VIRUELA. 

ALONG-  interval  behind  the  rear-guard  —  indeed,  the 
very  last  of  the  army,  and  quite  two  hours  behind 
—  came  four  Indian  slaves,  bringing  a  man  stretched  upon 
a  litter. 

And  the  litter  was  open,  and  the  sun  beat  cruelly  on  the 
man's  face ;  but  plaint  he  made  not,  nor  motion,  except  that 
his  head  rolled  now  right,  now  left,  responsive  to  the  ca- 
denced  steps  of  his  hearers. 

Was  he  sick  or  wounded  1 

Nathless,  into  the  city  they  carried  him. 

And  in  front  of  the  new  palace  of  the  king,  they  stopped, 


MONTEZUMA   A   PROPHET.  —  HIS   PROPHECY.        455 

less  wearied  than  overcome  by  curiosity.  And  as  they  stared 
at  the  great  house,  imagining  vaguely  the  splendor  within, 
a  groan  startled  them.  They  looked  at  their  charge ;  he 
was  dead !  Then  they  looked  at  each  other,  and  fled. 

And  in  less  than  twice  seven  days  they  too  died,  and  died 
horribly ;  and  in  dying  recognized  their  disease  as  that  of 
the  stranger  they  had  abandoned  before  the  palace,  —  the 
small-pox,  or,  in  the  language  which  hath  a  matchless  trick 
of  melting  everything,  even  the  most  ghastly,  into  music, 
la  viruela  of  the  Spaniard. 

The  sick  man  on  the  litter  was  a  negro,  —  first  of  his  race 
on  the  new  continent ! 

And  most  singular,  in  dying,  he  gave  his  masters  another 
servant  stronger  than  himself,  and  deadlier  to  the  infidels 
than  swords  of  steel,  —  a  servant  that  found  way  every 
where  in  the  crowded  city,  and  rested  not.  And  every 
where  its  breath,  like  its  touch,  was  mortal ;  insomuch  that 
a  score  and  ten  died  of  it  where  one  fell  in  battle. 

Of  the  myriads  who  thus  perished,  one  was  a  KING. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

MONTEZUMA    A    PROPHET. HIS    PROPHECY. 

SCARCE  five  weeks  before,  Cortes  sallied  from  the  palace 
with  seventy  soldiers,  ragged,  yet  curiously  bedight 
with  gold  and  silver  ;  now  he  returned  full-handed,  at  his 
back  thirteen  hundred  infantry,  a  hundred  horse,  additional 
guns  and  Tlascalans.  Surely,  he  could  hold  what  he  had 
gained. 

The   garrison   stood    in  the   court-yard   to   receive   him. 
Trumpet  replied  to  trumpet,  and  the  reverberation  of  drums 


456  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


shook  the  ancient  house.  When  all  were  assigned  to  quar 
ters,  the  ranks  were  broken,  and  the  veterans  —  those  who  had 
remained,  and  those  who  had  followed  their  chief — rushed 
clamorously  into  each  other's  arms.  Comradeship,  with  its 
strange  love,  born  of  toil  and  danger,  and  nursed  by  red- 
handed  battle,  asserted  itself.  The  men  of  Narvaez  looked 
on  indifferently,  or  clomb  the  palace,  and  from  the  roof  sur 
veyed  the  vicinage,  especially  the  great  temple,  apparently 
as  forsaken  as  the  city. 

And  in  the  court-yard  Cortes  met  Alvarado,  saluting  him 
coldly.  The  latter  excused  his  conduct  as  best  he  could  ; 
but  the  palliations  were  unsatisfactory.  The  general  turned 
from  him  with  bitter  denunciations ;  and  as  he  did  so,  a 
procession  approached  :  four  nobles,  carrying  silver  wandsj 
then  a  train  in  doubled  files  ;  then  Montezuma,  in  the  royal 
regalia,  splendid  from  head  to  foot.  The  shade  of  the 
canopy  borne  above  him  wrapped  his  person  in  purpled  soft 
ness,  but  did  not  hide  that  other  shadow  discernible  in  the 
slow,  uncertain  step,  the  bent  form,  the  wistful  eyes,  —  the 
shadow  of  the  coming  Fate.  Such  of  his  family  as  shared 
his  captivity  brought  up  the  cortege. 

At  the  sight,  Cortes  waited ;  his  blood  was  hot,  and  his 
head  filled  with  the  fumes  of  victory ;  from  a  great  height, 
as  it  were,  he  looked  upon  the  retinue,  and  its  sorrowful  mas 
ter  ;  and  his  eyes  wandered  fitfully  from  the  Christians,  worn 
by  watching  and  hunger,  to  the  sumptuousness  of  the  infi 
dels  ;  so  that  when  the  monarch  drew  nigh  him,  the  temper 
of  his  heart  was  as  the  temper  of  his  corselet. 

"  I  salute  you,  0  Malinche,  and  welcome  your  return," 
said  Montezuma,  according  to  the  interpretation  of  Marina. 

The  Spaniard  heard  him  without  a  sign  of  recognition. 

"  The  good  Lady  of  your  trust  has  had  you  in  care  ; 
she  has  given  you  the  victory.  I  congratulate  you,  Ma 
linche." 


MONTEZUMA  A  PROPHET.  —  HIS  PROPHECY.        457 

Still  the  Spaniard  was  obstinate. 

The  king  hesitated,  dropped  his  eyes  under  the  cold  stare, 
and  was  frozen  into  silence.  Then  Cortes  turned  upon  his 
heel,  and,  without  a  word,  sought  his  chamber. 

The  insult  was  plain,  and  the  witnesses,  Christian  and 
infidel,  were  shocked  ;  and  while  they  stood  surprised,  Tula 
rushed  up,  and  threw  her  arms  around  the  victim's  neck,  and 
laid  her  head  upon  his  breast.  The  retinue  closed  around 
them,  as  if  to .  hide  the  shame  ;  and  thus  the  unhappy 
monarch  went  back  to  his  quarters,  —  back  to  his  captiv 
ity,  to  his  remorse,  and  the  keener  pangs  of  pride  savagely 
lacerated. 

For  a  time  he  was  like  one  dazed ;  but,  half  Avaking,  he 
wrung  his  hands,  and  said,  feebly,  "  It  cannot  be,  it  can 
not  be  !  Maxtla,  take  the  councillors  and  go  to  Malinche, 
and  say  that  I  wish  to  see  him.  Tell  him  the  business  is 
urgent,  and  will  not  wait.  Bring  me  his  answer,  omitting 
nothing." 

The  young  chief  and  the  four  nobles  departed,  and  the 
king  relapsed  into  his  dazement,  muttering,  "  It  cannot  be, 
it  cannot  be  !  " 

The  commissioners  delivered  the  message.  Olid,  Leon, 
and  others  who  were  present  begged  Cortes  to  be  consid 
erate. 

"  No,"  he  replied  ;  "  the  dog  of  a  king  would  have  be 
trayed  us  to  Narvaez ;  before  his  eyes  we  are  allowed  to 
hunger.  Why  are  the  markets  closed  1  I  have  nothing  to 
do  with  him." 

And  to  the  commissioners  he  said,  "  Tell  your  master  to 
open  the  markets,  or  we  will  for  him.  Begone  !  " 

And  they  went  back  and  reported,  omitting  nothing,  not 
even  the  insulting  epithet.     The  king  heard  them  silently  ; 
as  they  proceeded,  he  gathered  strength  ;  when  they  ceased, 
he  was  calm  and  resolved. 
20 


458  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Return  to  Malinche,"  he  said,  "  and  tell  him  what  I 
wished  to  say  :  that  my  people  are  ready  to  attack  him,  and 
that  the  only  means  I  know  to  divert  them  from  their  pur 
pose  is  to  release  the  lord  Cuitlahua,  my  brother,  and  send 
him  to  them  to  enforce  my  orders.  There  is  now  no  other  of 
authority  upon  whom  I  can  depend  to  keep  the  peace,  and 
open  the  markets ;  he  is  the  last  hope.  Go." 

The  messengers  departed  ;  and  when  they  were  gone  the 
monarch  said,  "  Leave  the  chamber  now,  all  but  Tula." 

At  the  last  outgoing  footstep  she  went  near,  and  knelt 
before  him ;  knowing,  with  the  divination  which  is  only  of 
woman,  that  she  was  now  to  have  reply  to  the  'tzin's  mes 
sage,  delivered  by  her  in  the  early  morning.  Her  tearful 
look  he  answered  with  a  smile,  saying  tenderly,  "  I  do  not 
know  whether  I  gave  you  welcome.  If  I  did  not,  I  will 
amend  the  fault.  Come  near." 

She  arose,  and,  putting  an  arm  over  his  shoulder,  knelt 
closer  by  his  side  ;  he  kissed  her  forehead,  and  pressed  her 
close  to  his  breast.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  gentleness 
of  the  caress,  unless  it  was  the  accompanying  look.  She 
replied  with  tears,  and  such  breaking  sobs  as  are  only  per 
mitted  to  passion  and  childhood. 

"  Now,  if  never  before,"  he  continued,  "  you  are  my  best 
beloved,  because  your  faith  in  me  fell  not  away  Avith  that  of 
all  the  world  besides  ;  especially,  0  good  heart !  especially 
because  you  have  to-day  shown  me  an  escape  from  my  in 
tolerable  misery  and  misfortunes,  —  for  which  may  the  gods 
who  have  abandoned  me  bless  you  !  " 

He  stroked  the  dark  locks  under  his  hand  lovingly. 

"  Tears  ]  Let  there  be  none  for  me.  I  am  happy.  I 
have  been  unresolved,  drifting  with  uncertain  currents,  doubt 
ful,  yet  hopeful,  seeing  nothing,  and  imagining  everything  ; 
waiting,  sometimes  on  men,  sometimes  on  the  gods,  —  and 
that  so  long,  —  ah,  so  long  !  But  now  the  weakness  is  past 


MONTEZUMA  A   PROPHET.  —  HIS  PROPHECY.         459 

Rejoice  with  me,  O  Tula !  In  this  hour  I  have  recovered  do 
minion  over  myself;  with  every  faculty  restored,  the  very 
king  Avhom  erst  you  knew,  I  will  make  answer  to  the  'tzin. 
Listen  well.  I  give  you  my  last  decree,  after  which  I  shall 
regard  myself  as  lost  to  the  world.  If  I  live,  I  shall  never 
rule  again.  Somewhere  in  the  temples  I  shSIl  find  a  cell 
like  that  from  which  they  took  me  to  be  king.  The  sweetness 
of  the  solitude  I  remember  yet.  There  I  will  wait  for  death ; 
and  my  waiting  shall  be  so  seemly  that  his  coming  shall  be 
as  the  coming  of  a  restful  sleep.  Hear  then,  and  these  words 
give  the  'tzin :  Not  as  king  to  subject,  nor  as  priest  to  peni 
tent,  but  as  father  to  son,  I  send  him  my  blessing.  Of  par 
don  I  say  nothing.  All  he  has  done  for  Anahuac,  and  all 
he  hopes  to  do  for  her,  I  approve.  Say  to  him,  also,  that 
in  the  last  hour  Malinche  will  come  for  me  to  go  with  him 
to  the  people,  and  that  I  will  go.  Then,  I  say,  let  the  'tzin 
remember  what  the  gods  have  laid  upon  him,  and  with  his 
own  hand  do  the  duty,  that  it  may  be  certainly  done.  A 
man's  last  prayer  belongs  to  the  gods,  his  last  look  to  those 
who  love  him.  In  dying  there  is  no  horror  like  lingering 
long  amidst  enemies." 

His  voice  trembled,  and  he  paused.  She  raised  her  eyes 
to  his  face,  which  was  placid,  but  rapt,  as  if  his  spirit  had 
been  caught  by  a  sudden  vision. 

"  To  the  world,"  he  said,  in  a  little  while,  "  I  have  bid 
farewell.  I  see  its  vanities  go  from  me  one  by  one ;  last 
in  the  train,  and  most  glittering,  most  loved,  Power,  —  and 
in  its  hands  is  my  heart.  A  shadow  creeps  upon  me,  darken 
ing  all  without,  but  brightening  all  within ;  and  in  the 
brightness,  lo,  my  People  and  their  Future  !  " 

He  stopped  again,  then  resumed  :  — 

"  The  long,  long  cycles  —  two,  —  four,  —  eight  —  pass 
away,  and  I  see  the  tribes  newly  risen,  like  the  trodden 
grass,  and  in  their  midst  a  Priesthood  and  a  Cross.  An  age 


460  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


of  battles  more,  and,  lo !  the  Cross  but  not  the  priests ;  in 
their  stead  Freedom  and  God." 

And  with  the  last  word,  as  if  to  indicate  the  Christian 
God,  the  report  of  a  gun  without  broke  the  spell  of  the 
seer ;  the  two  started,  and  looked  at  each  other,  listening 
for  what  migtt  follow  ;  but  there  was  nothing  more,  and  ho 
went  on  quietly  talking  to  her. 

"  I  know  the  children  of  the  Aztec,  crushed  now,  will  live, 
and  more,  —  after  ages  of  wrong  suffered  by  them,  they  will 
rise  up,  and  take  their  place — a  place  of  splendor — amongst 
the  deathless  nations  of  the  earth.  What  I  saw  was  reve 
lation.  Cherish  the  words,  0  Tula;  repeat  them  often; 
make  them  an  utterance  of  the  people,  a  sacred  tradition ; 
let  them  go  down  with  the  generations,  one  of  which  will,  at 
last,  rightly  interpret  the  meaning  of  the  words  FREEDOM 
and  GOD,  now  dark  to  my  understanding ;  and  then,  not  till 
then,  will  be  the  new  birth  and  new  career.  And  so  shall  my 
name  become  of  the  land  a  part,  suggested  by  all  things,  — 
by  the  sun  mildly  tempering  its  winds;  by  the  rivers  sing 
ing  in  its  valleys  ;  by  the  stars  seen  from  its  mountain-tops ; 
by  its  cities,  and  their  palaces  and  halls  ;  and  so  shall  its  red 
races  of  whatever  blood  learn  to  call  me  father,  and  in  their 
glory,  as  well  as  misery,  pray  for  and  bless  me." 

In  the  progress  of  this  speech  his  voice  grew  stronger, 
and  insensibly  his  manner  ennobled ;  at  the  conclusion,  his 
appearance  was  majestic.  Tula  regarded  him  with  awe,  and 
accepted  his  utterances,  not  as  the  song  habitual  to  the  Aztec 
warrior  at  the  approach  of  death,  nor  as  the  rhapsody  of 
pride  soothing  itself ;  she  accepted  them  as  prophecy,  and  as 
a  holy  trust,  —  a  promise  to  be  passed  down  through  time, 
to  a  generation  of  her  race,  the  first  to  understand  truly  the 
simple  words,  —  FREEDOM  and  GOD.  And  they  were  silent 
a  long  time. 

At  length  there  was  a  warning  at  the  door ;    the  littlu 


MONTEZUMA  A  PROPHET.  — HIS  PROPHECY.    461 

bells  filled  the  room  with  music  strangely  inharmonious. 
The  king  looked  that  way,  frowning.  The  intruder  entered 
without  nequen ;  as  he  drew  near  the  monarch's  seat,  his 
steps  became  slower,  and  his  head  drooped  upon  his  breast. 

"  Cuitlahua  !  my  brother  !  "  said  Montezuma,  surprised. 

"  Brother  and  king  !  "  answered  the  cacique,  as  he  knelt 
and  placed  both  palms  upon  the  floor. 

"  You  bring  me  a  message.     Arise  and  speak." 

"  No,"  said  Cuitlahua,  rising.  "  I  have  come  to  receive 
your  signet  and  orders.  I  am  free.  The  guard  is  at  the 
door  to  pass  me  through  the  gate.  Malinche  would  have  me 
go  and  send  the  people  home,  and  open  the  markets ;  he  said 
such  were  your  orders.  But  from  him  I  take  nothing  ex 
cept  liberty.  But  you,  0  king,  what  will  you,  —  peace  or 
war?" 

Tula  looked  anxiously  at  the  monarch  ;  would  the  old 
vacillation  return  1  He  replied  firmly  and  gravely,  — 

"  I  have  given  my  last  order  as  king.  Tula  will  go  with 
you  from  the  palace,  and  deliver  it  to  you." 

He  arose  while  speaking,  and  gave  the  cacique  a  ring  ;  then 
for  a  moment  he  regarded  the  two  with  suffused  eyes,  and 
said,  "  I  divide  my  love  between  you  and  my  people.  For 
their  sake,  I  say,  go  hence  quickly,  lest  Malinche  change  his 
mind.  You,  0  my  brother,  and  you,  my  child,  take  my 
blessing  and  that  of  the  gods  !  Farewell." 

He  embraced  them  both.  To  Tula  he  clung  long  and  pas 
sionately.  More  than  his  ambassadress  to  the  'tzin,  she  bore 
his  prophecy  to  the  generations  of  the  future.  His  last  kiss 
was  dewy  with  her  tears.  With  their  faces  to  him,  they 
moved  to  the  door ;  as  they  passed  out,  each  gave  a  last 
look,  and  caught  his  image  then,  —  the  image  of  a  man 
breaking  because  he  happened  to  be  in  God's  way. 


462  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


CHAPTER  V. 

HOW    TO    YIELD    A   CROWN. 

AS  the  guard  passed  the  old  lord  and  the  princess  out 
of  the  gate  opposite  the  teocallis,  the  latter  looked  up 
to  the  azoteas  of  the  sacred  pile,  and  saw  the  'tzin  standing 
near  the  verge  ;  taking  off  the  white  scarf  that  covered  her 
head,  and  fell  from  her  shoulders,  after  passing  once  around 
her  neck,  she  gave  him  the  signal.  He  waved  his  hand  in 
reply,  and  disappeared. 

The  lord  Cuitlahua,  just  released  from  imprisonment  and 
ignorant  of  the  situation,  scarcely  knowing  whither  to  turn 
jet  impatient  to  set  his  revenge  in  motion,  accepted  the 
suggestion  of  Tula,  and  accompanied  her  to  the  temple.  The 
ascent  was  laborious,  especially  to  him ;  at  the  top,  however, 
they  were  received  by  Io'  and  Hualpa,  and  with  every  show 
of  respect  conducted  to  the  'tzin.  He  saluted  them  gravely, 
yet  affectionately.  Cuitlahua  told  him  the  circumstances  of 
his  release  from  imprisonment. 

"  So,"  said  the  'tzin,  "  Malinche  expects  you  to  open  the 
market,  and  forbid  the  war ;  but  the  king,  —  what  of 
him?" 

"  To  Tula  he  gave  his  will ;  hear  her." 

And  she  repeated  the  message  of  her  father.  At  the 
end,  the  calm  of  the  'tzin's  temper  was  much  disturbed. 
At  his  instance  she  again  and  again  recited  the  prophecy. 
The  words  "Freedom  and  God"  were  as  dark  to  him  as 
to  the  king,  and  he  wondered  at  them.  But  that  was 
not  all.  Clearly,  Montezuma  approved  the  war ;  that  he 
intended  its  continuance  was  equally  certain ;  unhappily, 
there  was  no  designation  of  a  commander.  And  in  thought 


HOW  TO  YIELD  A  CROWN.  463 

of  the  omission,  the  young  chief  hesitated ;  never  did  am 
bition  appeal  to  him  more  strongly  ;  but  he  brushed  the 
allurement  away,  and  said  to  Cuitlahua,  — 

"  The  king  has  been  pleased  to  be  silent  as  to  which  of  us 
should  govern  in  his  absence  ;  but  we  are  both  of  one  mind  : 
the  right  is  yours  naturally,  and  your  coming  at  this  time, 
good  uncle,  looks  as  if  the  gods  sent  you.  Take  the  gov 
ernment,  therefore,  and  give  me  your  orders.  Malinche  is 
stronger  than  ever."  He  turned  thoughtfully  to  the  palace 
below,  over  which  the  flag  of  Spain  and  that  of  Cortes  were 
now  displayed.  "  He  will  require  of  us  days  of  toil  and 
fighting,  and  many  assaults.  In  conquering  him  there  will 
be  great  glory,  which  I  pray  you  will  let  me  divide  with 
you." 

The  lord  Cuitlahua  heard  the  patriotic  speech  with  glisten 
ing  eyes.  Undoubtedly  he  appreciated  the  self-denial  that 
made  it  beautiful ;  for  he  said,  with  emotion,  "  I  accept  the 
government,  and,  as  its  cares  demand,  will  take  my  brother's 
place  in  the  palace ;  do  you  take  what  else  would  be  my 
place  under  him  in  the  field.  And  may  the  gods  help  us 
each  to  do  his  duty  !  " 

He  held  out  his  hand,  which  the  'tzin  kissed  in  token  of 
fealty,  and  so  yielded  the  crown  ;  and  as  if  the  great  act 
were  already  out  of  mind,  he  said,  — 

"  Come,  now,  good  uncle,  —  and  you,  also,  Tula,  —  come 
both  of  you,  and  I  will  show  what  use  I  made  of  the  kingly 
power." 

He  led  them  closer  to  the  verge  of  the  azoieas,  so  close 
that  they  saw  below  them  the  whole  western  side  of  the  city, 
and  beyond  that  the  lake  and  its  shore,  clear  to  the  sierra 
bounding  the  valley  in  that  direction. 

"  There,"  said  he,  in  the  same  strain  of  simplicity,  "  there, 
in  the  shadow  of  the  hills,  I  gathered  the  people  of  the  val 
ley,  and  the  flower  of  aU  the  tribes  that  pay  us  tribute, 


464  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


They  make  an  army  the  like  of  which  was  never  seen.  The 
chiefs  are  chosen  ;  you  may  depend  upon  them,  uncle.  The 
whole  great  host  will  die  for  you." 

"  Say,  rather,  for  us,"  said  the  lord  Cuitlahua. 

"  'No,  you  are  now  Anahuac  " ;  and,  as  deeming  the  point 
settled,  the  'tzin  turned  to  Tula.  "  0  good  heart,"  he  said, 
"  you  have  been  a  witness  to  all  the  preparation.  At  youi 
signal,  given  there  by  the  palace  gate,  I  kindled  the  piles 
which  yet  burn,  as  you  see,  at  the  four  corners  of  the 
temple.  Tlirough  them  I  spoke  to  the  chiefs  and  armies 
waiting  on  the  lake-shore.  Look  now,  and  see  their  an 
swers." 

They  looked,  and  from  the  shore  and  from  each  preten 
tious  summit  of  the  sierra,  saw  columns  of  smoke  rising  and 
melting  into  the  sky. 

"  In  that  way  the  chiefs  tell  me,  '  "We  are  ready,'  or  '  We 
are  coming.'  And  we  cannot  doubt  them ;  for  see,  a  dark 
line  on  the  white  face  of  the  causeway  to  Cojohuacan,  its 
head  nearly  touching  the  gates  at  Xoloc ;  and  another  from 
Tlacopan  ;  and  from  the  north  a  third ;  and  yonder  on  the 
lake,  in  the  shadow  of  Chapultepec,  a  yet  deeper  shadow." 

"  I  see  them,"  said  Cuitlahua. 

"  And  I,"  said  Tula.     "  What  are  they  ? " 

For  the  first  time  the  'tzin  acknowledged  a  passing  sen 
timent  ;  he  raised  his  head  and  swept  the  air  with  a  haughty 
gesture. 

"  What  are  they  ]  Wait  a  little,  and  you  shall  see  the  lines 
on  the  causeways  grow  into  ordered  companies,  and  the 
shadows  under  Chapultepec  become  a  multitude  of  canoes  ; 
wait  a  little  longer,  and  you  shall  see  the  companies  fill  all  the 
great  streets,  and  the  canoes  girdle  the  city  round  about  ; 
wait  a  little  longer,  and  you  may  see  the  battle." 

And  silence  fell  upon  the  three,  —  the  silence,  however,  in 
which  hearts  beat  like  drums.  From  point  to  point  they 


IN  THE  LEAGUEE.  465 


turned  their  eager  eyes,  —  from  the  causeways  to  the  lake, 
from  the  lake  to  the  palace. 

Slowly  the  converging  lines  crawled  toward  the  city  ; 
slowly  the  dark  mass  under  the  royal  hill,  sweeping  out  on 
the  lake,  broke  into  divisions  ;  slowly  the  banners  came  into 
view,  of  every  color  and  form,  and  then  the  shields  and 
uniforms,  until,  at  last,  each  host  on  its  separate  way 
looked  like  an  endless  unrolling  ribbon. 

When  the  column  approaching  by  the  causeway  from 
Tlacopan  touched  the  city  with  its  advance,  it  halted,  wait 
ing  for  the  others,  which,  having  farther  to  march,  were  yet 
some  distance  out.  Then  the  three  on  the  teocallis  separated  ; 
the  princess  retired  to  her  chinampa ;  the  lord  Cuitlahua, 
with  some  nobles  of  the  'tzin's  train,  betook  himself  to  the 
new  palace,  there  to  choose  a  household ;  the  'tzin,  for  pur 
poses  of  observation,  remained  on  the  azoteas. 

And  all  the  time  the  threatened  palace  was  a  picture  of 
peace ;  the  flags  hung  idly  down  ;  only  the  sentinels  were  in 
motion,  and  they  gossiped  with  each  other,  or  lingered 
lazily  at  places  where  a  wall  or  a  battlement  flung  them  a 
friendly  shade. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

IN  THE  LEAGUER. 

BY  and  by  a  Spaniard  came  out  through  the  main  gate 
way  of  the  palace  ;  after  brief  leave-taking  with  the 
guard  there,  he  walked  rapidly  down  the  street.     The  'tzin, 
observing  that  the  man  was  equipped  for  a  journey,  sur 
mised  him  to  be  a  courier,  and  smiled  at  the  confidence  of 
the  master  who  sent  him  forth  alone  at  such  a  tune. 
20»  DD 


466  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


The  courier  went  his  way,  and  the  great  movement  pro 
ceeded. 

After  a  while  Hualpa  and  Io'  came  down  from  the  turret 
where,  under  the  urn  of  fire,  they  too  had  been  watching, 
and  the  former  said,  — 

"  Your  orders,  0  'tzin,  are  executed.  The  armies  all 
stand  halted  at  the  gates  of  the  city,  and  at  the  outlet 
of  each  canal  I  saw  a  division  of  canoes  lying  in  wait." 

The  'tzin  looked  up  at  the  sun,  then  past  meridian,  and  re 
plied,  "It  is  well.  When  the  chiefs  see  but  one  smoke  from 
this  temple  they  will  enter  the  city.  Go,  therefore,  and 
put  out  all  the  fires  except  that  of  Huitzil'." 

And  soon  but  one  smoke  was  to  be  seen. 

A  little  afterwards  there  was  a  loud  cry  from  the  street, 
and,  looking  down,  the  'tzin  saw  the  Spanish  courier,  with 
out  morion  or  lance,  staggering  as  he  ran,  and  shouting. 
Instantly  the  great  gate  was  flung  open,  and  the  man  taken 
in ;  and  instantly  a  trumpet  rang  out,  and  then  another  and 
another.  Guatamozin  sprang  up.  The  alarm-note  thrilled 
him  no  less  than  the  Christians. 

The  palace,  before  so  slumberous,  became  alive.  The 
Tlascalans  poured  from  the  sheds,  that  at  places  lined  the 
interior  of  the  parapet,  and  from  the  main  building  forth 
rushed  the  Spaniards,  —  bowmen,  slingers,  and  arquebusiers  ; 
and  the  gunners  took  post  by  their  guns,  while  the  cavalry 
clothed  their  horses,  and  stood  by  the  bridles.  There  was 
no  tumult,  no  confusion ;  and  when  the  '  tzin  saw  them  in 
their  places  —  placid,  confident,  ready  —  his  heart  beat 
hard  :  he  would  win,  —  on  that  he  was  resolved,  —  but 
ah,  at  what  mighty  cost ! 

Soon,  half  drowned  by  the  voices  of  the  captains  muster 
ing  the  enemy  below,  he  heard  another  sound  rising  from 
every  quarter  of  the  city,  but  deeper  and  more  sustained, 
where  the  great  columns  marched.  He  listened  intently. 


IN  THE  LEAGUER.  467 


Though  far  and  faint,  he  recognized  the  susurrante,  —  liter 
ally  the  commingled  war-cries  of  almost  all  the  known  fight 
ing  tribes  of  the  New  World.  The  chiefs  were  faithful ; 
they  were  coming,  —  by  the  canals,  and  up  and  down  the 
great  streets,  they  were  coming ;  and  he  listened,  measuring 
their  speed  hy  the  growing  distinctness  of  the  clamor.  As 
they  came  nearer,  he  became  confident,  then  eager.  Sud 
denly,  everything,  —  objects  far  and  near,  the  old  palace,  and 
the  hated  flags,  the  lake,  and  the  purple  distance,  and  the 
unflecked  sky,  —  all  melted  into  mist,  for  he  looked  at  them 
through  tears.  So  the  Last  of  the  'Tzins  welcomed  his 
tawny  legions. 

While  he  indulged  the  heroic  weakness,  Io'  and  Hualpa 
rejoined  him.  About  the  same  time  Cortes  and  some  of  his 
cavaliers  appeared  on  the  azoteas  of  the  central  and  higher 
part  of  the  palace.  They  were  in  armor,  but  with  raised 
visors,  and  seemed  to  be  conjecturing  one  with  another,  and 
listening  to  the  portentous  sounds  that  now  filled  the  wel 
kin.  And  as  the  'tzin,  in  keen  enjoyment,  watched  the 
wonder  that  plainly  possessed  the  enemy,  there  was  a  flutter 
of  gay  garments  upon  the  palace,  and  two  women  joined 
the  party. 

"  Nenetzin  !  "  said  Io',  in  a  low  voice. 

"  Nenetzin  ! "  echoed  Hualpa. 

And  sharper  grew  his  gaze,  while  down  stooped  the  sun 
to  illumine  the  face  of  the  faithless,  as,  smiling  the  old 
smile,  she  rested  lovingly  upon  Alvarado's  arm.  He  turned 
away,  and  covered  his  head.  But  soon  a  hand  was  laid 
upon  his  shoulder,  and  he  heard  a  voice,  —  the  voice  of  the 
'tzin,  — 

"  Lord  Hualpa,  as  once  before  you  were  charged,  I  charge 
you  now. .  With  your  own  hand  make  the  signal.  Io'  will 
bring  you  the  word.  Go  now."  Then  the  voice  sunk  to  a 
whisper.  "  Patience,  comrade.  The  days  for  many  to  come 


468  THE   FAIR   GOD. 


will  be  clays  of  opportunity.    Already  the  wrong-doer  is  in 
the  toils  ;  yet  a  little  longer.     Patience  ! " 

The  noise  of  the  infidels  had  now  come  to  be  a  vast 
uproar,  astonishing  to  the  bravest  of  the  listeners.  Even 
Cortes  shared  the  common  feeling.  That  war  was  intended 
he  knew  ;  but  he  had  not  sufficiently  credited  the  Aztec 
genius.  The  whole  valley  appeared  to  be  in  arms.  His  face 
became  a  shade  more  ashy  as  he  thought,  either  this  was 
of  the  king,  or  the  people  were  capable  of  grand  action 
without  the  king ;  and  he  griped  his  sword-hand  hard  in 
emphasis  of  the  oath  he  swore,  to  set  the  monarch  and  his 
people  face  to  face ;  that  would  he,  by  his  conscience,  — 
by  the  blood  of  the  saints  ! 

And  as  he  swore,  here  and  there  upon  the  adjacent  houses 
irmed  men  showed  themselves  ;  and  directly  the  heads  of 
columns  came  up,  and,  turning  right  and  left  at  the  corners, 
began  to  occupy  all  the  streets  around  the  royal  enclosure. 

If  one  would  fancy  what  the  cavaliers  then  saw,  let  him 
first  recall  the  place.  It  was  in  the  heart  of  the  city.  East 
ward  arose  the  teocallis,  —  a  terraced  hill  in  fact,  and  every 
terrace  a  vantage-point.  On  all  other  sides  of  the  palace  were 
edifices  each  higher  than  its  highest  part ;  and  each  fronted 
with  a  wall  resembling  a  parapet,  except  that  its  outer  face 
was  in  general  richly  ornamented  with  fretwork  and  mould 
ings  and  arches  and  grotesque  corbals  and  cantilevers. 
Every  roof  was  occupied  by  infidels ;  over  the  sculptured 
walls  they  looked  down  into  the  fortress,  if  I  may  so  call  it, 
of  the  strangers. 

As  the  columns  marched  and  countermarched  in  the 
streets  thus  beautifully  bounded,  they  were  a  spectacle  of 
extraordinary  animation.  Over  them  played  the  semi-trans 
parent  shimmer  or  thrill  of  air,  so  to  speak,  peculiar.to  armies 
in  rapid  movement,  —  curious  effect  of  changing  colors  and 
multitudinous  motion.  The  Christians  studied  them  wiih 


IN  THE   LEAGUER.  469 

an  interest  inappreciable  to  such  as  ha-v«  never  known  the 
sensations  of  a  soldier  watching  the  foe  taking  post  for 
combat. 

Of  arms  there  were  in  the  array  every  variety  known  to 
the  Aztecan  service,  —  the  long  bow ;  the  javelin ;  slings  of 
the  ancient  fashion,  fitted  for  casting  stones  a  pound  or  more 
in  weight ;  the  maquahuitl,  limited  to  the  officers  ;  and  here 
and  there  long  lances  with  heads  of  bronze  or  sharpened  flint. 
The  arms,  it  must  be  confessed,  added  little  to  the  general 
appearance  of  the  mass,  —  a  deficiency  amply  compensated 
by  the  equipments.  The  quivers  of  the  bowmen,  and  the 
pouches  of  the  slingers,  and  the  broad  straps  that  held  them 
to  the  person  were  brilliantly  decorated.  Equally  striking 
were  the  costumes  of  the  several  branches  of  the  service  : 
the  fillet,  holding  back  the  long,  straight  hair,  and  full  of 
feathers,  mostly  of  the  eagle  and  turkey,  though  not  un- 
frequently  of  the  ostrich,  —  costly  prizes  come,  in  the  way  of 
trade,  from  the  far  llanos  of  the  south  ;  the  escaupil,  of  bright 
est  crimson ;  the  shield,  faced  with  brazen  plates,  and  edged 
with  flying  tufts  of  buffalo  hair,  and  sometimes  with  longer 
and  brighter  locks,  the  gift  of  a  mistress  or  a  trophy  of  war. 
These  articles,  though  half  barbaric,  lost  nothing  by  contrast 
with  the  naked,  dark-brown  necks  and  limbs  of  the  warriors, 
—  lithe  and  stately  men,  from  whom  the  officers  were  distin 
guished  by  helmets  of  hideous  device  and  mantles  indescrib 
ably  splendid.  Over  all  shone  the  ensigns,  indicia  of  the 
tribes  :  here  a  shining  sphere ;  there  a  star,  or  a  crescent,  or 
a  radial  sun  ;  but  most  usually  a  floating  cloth  covered  with 
blazonry. 

With  each  company  marched  a  number  of  priests,  bare 
headed  and  frocked,  and  a  corps  of  musicians,  of  whom  some 
blew  unearthly  discords  from  conchs,  while  others  clashed 
cymbals,  and  beat  atabals  fashioned  like  the  copper  tam-tams 
of  the  Hindoos. 


470  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


Even  the  inarching  of  the  companies  was  peculiar.  In 
stead  of  the  slow,  laborious  step  of  the  European,  they 
came  on  at  a  pace  which,  between  sunrise  and  sunset, 
habitually  carried  them  from  the  bivouac  twenty  leagues 
away. 

And  as  they  marched,  the  ensigns  tossed  to  and  fro  ;  the 
priests  sang  monotonous  canticles ;  the  cymbalists  danced 
and  leaped  joyously  at  the  head  of  their  companies  ;  and  the 
warriors  in  the  ranks  flung  their  shields  aloft,  and  yelled 
their  war-cries,  as  if  drunk  with  happiness. 

As  the  inundation  of  war  swept  around  the  palace,  a  cav 
alier  raised  his  eyes  to  the  temple. 

"  Valgame  Dios  ! "  he  cried,  in  genuine  alarm.  "  The 
levies  of  the  valley  are  not  enough.  Lo,  the  legions  of  the 
air !  " 

On  the  azoteas  where  but  the  moment  before  only  the  'tzin 
and  Io'  were  to  be  seen,  there  were  hundreds  of  caparisoned 
warriors ;  and  as  the  Christians  looked  at  them,  they  all 
knelt,  leaving  but  one  man  standing ;  simultaneously  the 
companies  on  the  street  stopped,  and,  with  those  on  the 
house-tops,  hushed  their  yells,  and  turned  up  to  him  their 
faces  countless  and  glistening. 

"  Who  is  he  ]  "  the  cavaliers  asked  each  other. 

Cortes,  cooler  than  the  rest,  turned  to  Marina  :  "  Ask  the 
princess  JSTenetzin  if  she  knows  him." 

And  Nenetziii  answered,  — 

"  The  'tzin  Guatamo." 

As  the  two  chiefs  surveyed  each  other  in  full  recognition, 
down  from  the  sky,  as  it  were,  broke  an  intonation  so  deep 
that  the  Christians  were  startled,  and  the  women  fled  from 
the  roof. 

"  Ola  !  "  cried  Alvarado,  with  a  laugh.  "  I  have  heard 
that  thunder  before.  Down  with  your  visors,  gentlemen,  as 
ye  care  for  the  faces  your  mothers  love  !  " 


IN   THE   LEAGUER.  471 


Three  times  Hualpa  struck  the  great  drum  in  the  sanctuary 
of  Huitzil' ;  and  as  the  last  intonation  rolled  down  over  the 
city  the  clamor  of  the  infidels  broke  out  anew,  and  into 
the  enclosure  of  the  palace  they  poured  a  cloud  of  missiles 
so  thick  that  place  of  safety  there  was  not  anywhere  outside 
the  building. 

To  this  time  the  garrison  had  kept  silence ;  now,  standing 
each  at  his  post,  they  answered.  In  the  days  of  the  former 
siege,  besides  preparing  banquettes  for  the  repulsion  of  esca 
lades,  they  had  pierced  the  outer  walls,  generally  but  little 
higher  than  a  man's  head,  with  loop-holes  and  embrasures, 
out  of  which  the  guns,  great  and  small,  were  suddenly  pointed 
and  discharged.  No  need  of  aim ;  outside,  not  farther  than 
the  leap  of  the  flames,  stood  the  assailants.  The  effect, 
especially  of  the  artillery,  was  dreadful ;  and  the  prodigious 
noise,  and  the  dense,  choking  smoke,  stupefied  and  blinded 
the  masses,  so  unused  to  such  enginery.  And  from  the  wall 
they  shrank  staggering,  and  thousands  turned  to  fly  ;  but  in 
pressed  the  chiefs  and  the  priests,  and  louder  rose  the  clangor 
of  conchs  and  cymbals  :  the  very  density  of  the  multitude 
helped  stay  the  panic. 

And  down  from  the  temple  came  the  'tzin,  not  merely  to 
give  the  effect  of  his  presence,  but  to  direct  the  assault.  In 
the  sanctuary  he  had  arrayed  himself;  his  escaupil  and  til- 
matli,  of  richest  feather-work,  fairly  blazed ;  his  helm  and 
shield  sparkled  ;  and  behind,  scarcely  less  splendid,  walked 
Io'  and  Hualpa.  He  crossed  the  street,  shouting  his  war-cry. 
At  sight  of  him,  men  struggling  to  get  away  turned  to  fight 
again. 

Next  the  wall  of  the  palace  the  shrinking  of  the  infidels 
had  left  a  clear  margin  ;  and  there,  the  better  to  be  seen  by 
his  people,  the  'tzin  betook  himself.  In  front  of  the  em 
brasures  he  cleared  the  Hues  of  fire,  so  that  the  guns  were 
often  ineffectual ;  he  directed  attention  to  the  loopholes,  so 


472  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


that  the  appearance  of  an  arbalist  or  arquebus  drew  a  hun 
dred  arrows  to  the  spot.  Taught  by  his  example,  the  war 
riors  found  that  under  the  walls  there  was  a  place  of  safety  ; 
then  he  set  them  to  climbing ;  for  that  purpose  some  stuck 
their  javelins  in  the  cracks  of  the  masonry ;  some  formed 
groups  over  which  others  raised  themselves ;  altogether  the 
crest  of  the  wall  was  threatened  in  a  thousand  places, 
insomuch  that  the  Tlascalans  occupied  themselves  exclusively 
in  its  defence  ;  and  as  often  as  one  raised  to  strike  a  climber 
down,  he  made  himself  a  target  for  the  quick  bowmen  on 
the  opposite  houses. 

And  so,  wherever  the  'tzin  went  he  inspired  his  country 
men  ;  the  wounded,  and  the  many  dead  and  dying,  and 
the  blood  maddened  instead  of  daunting  them.  They 
rained  missiles  into  the  enclosure  ;  upon  the  wall  they  fought 
hand  to  hand  with  the  defenders  ;  in  their  inconsiderate  fury, 
many  leaped  down  inside,  and  perished  instantly,  —  but  all 
"in  vain. 

Then  the  'tzin  had  great  timbers  brought  up,  thinking  to 
batter  in  the  parapet.  Again  and  again  they  were  hurled 
against  the  face  of  the  masonry,  but  without  effect. 

Yet  another  resort.  He  had  balls  of  cotton  steeped  in  oil 
shot  blazing  into  the  palace-yard.  Against  the  building,  and 
on  its  tiled  roof,  they  fell  harmless.  It  happened,  however, 
that  the  sheds  in  which  the  Tlascalans  quartered  consisted 
almost  entirely  of  reeds,  with  roofs  of  rushes  and  palm- 
leaves  ;  they  burst  into  flames.  Water  could  not  be  spared 
by  the  garrison,  for  the  drought  was  great ;  in  the  extremity, 
the  Tlascalans  and  many  Christians  were  drawn  from  the  de 
fences,  and  set  to  casting  earth  upon  the  new  enemy.  H\in- 
ilreds  of  the  former  were  killed  or  disabled.  The  flames 
spread  to  the  wooden  outworks  of  the  wall.  The  smoke 
almost  blotted  out  the  day.  After  a  while  a  part  of  the  wall 
fell  down,  find  the  infidels  rushed  in  ;  a  steady  fire  of  arque- 


IN  THE  LEAGUER  YET  473 

buses  swept  them  away,  and  choked  the  chasm  with  the 
slain  ;  still  others  braved  the  peril ;  company  after  company 
dashed  into  the  fatal  snare  uselessly,  as  waves  roll  forward 
and  spend  themselves  in  the  gorge  of  a  sea-wall. 

The  conflict  lasted  without  abatement  through  long  hours. 
The  sun  went  down.  In  the  twilight  the  great  host  with 
drew,  —  all  that  could.  The  smoke  from  the  conflagration 
and  guns  melted  into  the  shades  of  night ;  and  the  stars, 
mild-eyed  as  ever,  came  out  one  by  one  to  see  the  wrecks 
heaped  and  ghastly  lying  in  the  bloody  street  and  palace- 
yard. 

All  night  the  defenders  lay  upon  their  arms,  or,  told  off  in 
working  parties,  labored  to  restore  the  breach. 

All  night  the  infidels  collected  their  dead  and  wounded, 
thousands  in  number.  They  did  not  offer  to  attack,  —  custom 
forbade  that  •  yet  over  the  walls  they  sent  their  vengefid 
warnings. 

All  night  the  listening  sentinels  on  the  parapet  noted  the 
darkness  filled  with  sounds  of  preparation  from  every  quar 
ter  of  the  city.  And  they  crossed  themselves,  and  muttered 
the  names  of  saints  and  good  angels,  and  thought  shudder- 
ingly  of  the  morrow. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

IN  THE  LEAGUER  YET. 

GUATAMOZIK  took  little  rest  that  night.  The  very 
uncertainty  of  the  combat  multiplied  his  cares.  It 
was  not  to  be  supposed  that  his  enemy  would  keep  to  the 
palace,  content  day  after  day  with  receiving  assaults ;  that 
was  neither  his  character  nor  his  policy.  To-morrow  he  would 
certainly  open  the  gates,  and  try  conclusions  in  the  streets 


174  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


The  first  duty,  therefore,  was  to  provide  for  such  a  con 
tingency.  So  the  'tzin  went  along  all  the  streets  leading 
to  the  old  palace,  followed  by  strong  working-parties ;  and 
where  the  highest  houses  fronted  each  other,  he  stopped, 
and  thereat  the  details  fell  to  making  barricades,  and  carry 
ing  stones  and  logs  to  the  roofs.  As  a  final  measure  of  im 
portance,  he  cut  passages  through  the  walls  of  the  houses 
and  gardens,  that  companies  might  be  passed  quickly  and 
secretly  from  one  thoroughfare  to  another. 

Everywhere  he  found  great  cause  for  mourning ;  but  the 
stories  of  the  day  were  necessarily  lost  in  the  demands  of 
the  morrow. 

He  visited  his  caciques,  and  waited  on  the  lord  Cuitlahua 
to  take  his  orders ;  then  he  passed  to  the  temples,  whence, 
as  he  well  knew,  the  multitudes  in  great  part  derived  their 
inspiration.  The  duties  of  the  soldier,  politician,  and  devotee 
discharged,  he  betook  himself  to  the  chinampa,  and  to  Tula 
told  the  heroisms  of  the  combat,  and  his  plans  and  hopes  ; 
there  he  renewed  his  own  inspirations. 

Toward  morning  he  returned  to  the  great  temple.  Hualpa 
and  Io',  having  followed  him  throughout  his  round,  spread 
their  mantles  on  the  roof,  and  slept  :  he  could  not ;  between 
the  work  of  yesterday  and  that  to  come,  his  mind  played 
pendulously,  and  with  such  forceful  activity  as  forbade 
slumber.  From  the  quarters  of  the  strangers,  moreover,  he 
heard  constantly  the  ringing  of  hammers,  the  neighing  and 
trampling  of  steeds,  and  voices  of  direction.  It  was  a  long 
night  to  him  ;  but  at  last  over  the  crown  of  the  White 
Woman  the  dawn  flung  its  first  light  into  the  valley ;  and 
then  he  saw  the  palace,  its  walls  manned,  the  gunners  by 
their  pieces,  and  in  the  great  court  lines  of  footmen,  and  ut 
the  main  gate  horsemen  standing  by  their  bridles. 

"  Thanks,  O  gods  !  "  he  cried.  "  Walls  will  not  separata 
my  people  from  their  enemies  to-day  !  " 


IN  THE  LEAGUER  YET.  475 

With  the  suniise  the  assault  began,  —  a  repetition  of  that 
of  the  day  before. 

Then  the  guns  opened  ;  and  while  the  infidels  reeled 
under  the  fire,  out  of  the  gates  rode  Cortes  and  his  chivalry, 
a  hundred  men-at-arms.  Into  the  mass  they  dashed.  Space 
sufficient  having  been  won,  they  wheeled  southward  down 
the  beautiful  street,  followed  by  detachments  of  bowmen 
and  arquebusiers  and  Tlascalans.  With  them  also  went 
Mesa  and  his  guns. 

When  fairly  in  the  street,  environed  with  walls,  the  'tzin's 
tactics  and  preparation  appeared.  Upon  the  approach  of 
the  cavalry,  the  companies  took  to  the  houses  ;  only  those 
fell  who  stopped  to  fight  or  had  not  time  to  make  the  exit. 
All  the  time,  however,  the  horsemen  were  exposed  to  the 
missiles  tossed  upon  them  from  the  roofs.  Soon  as  they 
passed,  out  rushed  the  infidels  in  hordes,  to  fall  upon  the 
flanks  and  rear  of  the  supporting  detachments.  Never  was 
Mesa  so  hard  pressed ;  never  were  helm  and  corselet  so 
nearly  useless ;  never  gave  up  the  ghost  so  many  of  the 
veteran  Tlascalans. 

At  length  the  easy  way  of  the  cavalry  was  brought  to  a 
stop  ;  before  them  was  the  first  barricade,  —  a  work  of  earth 
and  stones  too  high  to  be  leaped,  and  defended  by  Chinan- 
tlan  spears,  of  all  native  weapons  the  most  dreaded.  Never 
theless,  Cortes  drew  rein  only  at  its  foot.  On  the  instant 
his  shield  and  mail  warded  off  a  score  of  bronzed  points, 
whirled  his  axe,  crash  went  the  spears,  • — •  that  was  all. 

Meantime,  the  eager  horsemen  in  the  rear,  not  knowing 
of  the  obstacle  in  front,  pressed  on ;  the  narrow  space  be 
came  packed  ;  then  from  the  roofs  on  the  right  hand  and 
the  left  descended  a  tempest  of  stones  and  lances,  blent 
with  beams  of  wood,  against  which  no  guard  was  strong 
enough.  Six  men  and  horses  fell  there.  A  cry  of  dismay 
arose  from  the  pack,  and  much  calling  was  there  on  patron 


476  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


saints,  much  writhing  and  swaying  of  men  and  plunging  of 
steeds,  and  vain  looking  upward  through  bars  of  steeL 
Cortes  quitted  smashing  spears  over  the  barricade. 

"  Out !  out !     Back,  in  Christ's  name  !  "  he  cried. 

The  jam  was  finally  relieved. 

Again  his  voice,  — 

"  To  Mesa,  some  of  ye  ;  bring  the  guns  !     Speed  !  " 

Then  he,  too,  rode  slowly  back ;  and  sharper  than  the: 
shame  of  the  retreat,  sharper  than  the  arrows  or  the  taunts 
of  the  foe,  sharper  than  all  of  them  together,  was  the  sight 
of  the  six  riders  in  their  armor  left  to  quick  despoilment,  — 
they  and  their  good  steeds. 

It  was  not  easy  for  Mesa  to  come ;  but  he  did,  opening 
within  a  hundred  feet  of  the  barricade.  Again  and  again 
he  fired  ;  the  smoke  wreathed  blinding  white  about  him. 

"  What  sayest  thou  now  ? "  asked  Cortes,  impatiently. 

"  That  thou  mayest  go,  and  thou  wilt.  The  saints  go  with 
thee  ! " 

The  barricade  was  a  ruin. 

At  the  first  bridge  again  there  was  a  fierce  struggle  ;  when 
taken,  the  floor  was  heaped  with  dead  and  wounded  infidels. 

And  so  for  hours.  Only  at  the  last  gate,  that  opening  on 
the  causeway  to  Iztapalapan,  did  Cortes  stay  the  sally.  There, 
riding  to  the  rear,  now  become  the  front,  he  started  in  re 
turn.  Needless  to  tell  how  well  the  Christians  fought,  or 
how  devotedly  the  pagans  resisted  and  perished.  Enough 
that  the  going  back  was  more  difficult  than  the  coming. 
Four  more  of  the  Spaniards  perished  on  the  way. 

At  a  late  hour  that  night  Sandoval  entered  Cortes'  room, 
and  gave  him  a  parchment.  The  chief  went  to  the  lamp  and 
read  ;  then,  snatching  his  sword  from  the  table,  he  walked 
to  and  fro,  as  was  his  wont  when  much  disturbed  ;  only  his 
strides  were  longer,  and  the  gride  of  the  weapon  on  the  tiled 
floor  more  relentless  than  common. 


IN  THE  LEAGUER  YET.  477 

He  stopped  abruptly. 

"  Dead,  ten  of  them  !     And  their  horses,  captain  1 " 

"  Three  were  saved,"  replied  Sandoval. 

"  By  my  conscience,  I  like  it  not  !  and  thou  ?  " 

"  I  like  it  less,"  said  the  captain,  naively. 

"  "What  say  the  men  ? " 

"  They  demand  to  be  led  from  the  city  while  yet  they 
have  strength  to  go." 

Cortes  frowned  and  continued  his  walk.  When  next  he 
stopped,  he  said,  in  the  tone  of  a  man  whose  mind  was 
made  up,  — 

"  Good  night,  captain.  See  that  the  sentinels  sleep  not ; 
and,  captain,  as  thou  goest,  send  hither  Martin  Lopez,  and 
mind  him  to  bring  one  or  two  of  his  master  carpenters. 
Good  night." 

The  mind  of  the  leader,  never  so  quick  as  in  time  of 
trouble,  had  in  the  few  minutes  reviewed  the  sortie.  True, 
.he  had  broken  through  the  barricades,  taken  bridge  after 
bridge,  and  driven  the  enemy  often  as  they  opposed  him ; 
he  had  gone  triumphantly  to  the  very  gates  of  the  city,  and 
returned,  and  joined  Olmedo  in  unctuous  celebration  of  the 
achievement ;  yet  the  good  was  not  as  clear  and  immediate 
as  at  first  appeared. 

He  recalled  the  tactics  of  his  enemy  :  how,  on  his  ap 
proach,  they  had  vanished  from  the  street  and  assailed  him 
from  the  roofs ;  how,  when  he  had  passed,  they  poured  into 
the  street  again,  and  flung  themselves  hand  to  hand  upon 
the  infantry  and  -artillery.  And  the  result,  —  ten  riders  and 
seven  horses  were  dead ;  of  the  Tlascalans  in  the  column 
nearly  all  had  perished ;  every  Christian  foot-soldier  had  one 
or  more  wounds.  At  Cempoalla  he  himself  had  been  hurt 
in  the  left  hand ;  now  he  was  sore  with  contusions.  He  set 
his  teeth  hard  at  thought  of  the  moral  effect  of  the  day's 
work ;  how  it  would  raise  the  spirit  of  the  infidels,  and  de- 


478  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


press  that  of  his  own  people.  Already  the  latter  were 
clamoring  to  be  led  from  the  city,  —  so  the  blunt  Captain 
Sandoval  had  said. 

The  enemy's  advantage  was  in  the  possession  of  the 
houses.  The  roofs  dominated  the  streets.  Were  there  no 
means  by  which  he  could  dominate  the  roofs  ?  He  bent 
his  whole  soul  to  the  problem.  Somewhere  he  had  read  or 
heard  of  the  device  known  in  ancient  warfare  as  mantelets, 
—  literally,  a  kind  of  portable  roof,  under  which  besiegers 
approached  and  sapped  or  battered  a  wall.  The  recollection 
was  welcome;  the  occasion  called  for  an  extraordinary  re 
sort.  He  laid  the  sword  gently  upon  the  table,  gently  as  lie 
would  a  sleeping  child,  and  sent  for  Lopez. 

That  worthy  came,  and  with  him  two  carpenters,  each  as 
rough  as  himself.  And  it  was  a  picture,  if  not  a  comedy, 
to  watch  the  four  bending  over  the  table  to  follow  Cortes, 
while,  with  his  dagger-point,  he  drew  lines  illustrative  of  the 
strange  machine.  They  separated  with  a  perfect  understand-- 
ing.  The  chief  slept  soundly,  his  confidence  stronger  than 
ever. 

Another  day,  —  the  third.  From  morn  till  noon  and 
night,  the  clamor  of  assault  and  the  exertion  of  defence,  the 
roar  of  guns  from  within,  the  rain  of  missiles  from  without, 
—  Death  everywhere. 

All  the  day  Cortes  held  to  the  palace.  On  the  other  side, 
the  'tzin  kept  close  watch  from  the  teocallis.  That  morning 
early  he  had  seen  workmen  bring  from  the  palace  some  stout 
timbers,  and  in  the  great  court-yard  proceed  to  frame  them. 
He  plied  the  party  with  stones  and  arrows  ;  again  and  again, 
best  of  all  the  good  bowmen  of  the  valley,  he  himself  sent 
his  shafts  at  the  man  who  seemed  the  director  of  the 
work  ;  as  often  did  they  splinter  upon  his  helm  or  corselet,  or 
drop  harmless  from  the  close  links  of  tempered  steel  de 
fending  his  limbs.  The  work  wert  steadily  on,  and  by  noon 


IN   THE   LEAGUER  YET.  479, 

had  taken  the  form  of  towers,  two  in  number,  and  high 
as  ordinary  houses.  By  sunset  both  were  under  roof. 

When  the  night  came,  the  garrison  were  not  rested ;  and 
as  to  the  infidels,  the  lake  received  some  hundreds  more  of 
them,  which  was  only  room  made  for  other  hundreds  as  brave 
and  devoted. 

Over  the  palace  walls  the  besiegers  sent  words  ominous  and 
disquieting,  and  not  to  be  confounded  with  the  half-sung 
formulas  of  the  watchers  keeping  time  on  the  temples  by  the 
movement  of  the  stars. 

"Malinche,  Malinche,  we  are  a  thousand  to  your  one. 
Our  gods  hunger  for  vengeance.  You  cannot  escape 
them." 

So  the  Spaniards  heard  in  their  intervals  of  unrest. 

"  0  false  sons  of  Anahuac,  the  festival  is  making  ready ; 
your  hearts  are  Huitzil's  ;  the  cages  are  open  to  receive  you." 

The  Tlascalans  heard,  and  trembled. 

The  fourth  day.  Still  Cortes  kept  within  the  palace,  and 
still  the  assault ;  nor  with  all  the  slaughter  could  there  be 
perceived  any  decrease  either  in  the  number  of  the  infidels 
or  the  spirit  of  their  attack. 

Meantime  the  workmen  in  the  court-yard  clung  to  the 
construction  of  the  towers.  Lopez  was  skilful,  Cortes  im 
patient.  At  last  they  were  finished. 

That  night  the  'tzin  visited  Tula.  At  parting,  she  followed 
him  to  the  landing.  Yeteve  went  with  her.  "  The  blessing 
of  the  gods  be  upon  you  !  "  she  said  ;  and  the  benediction,  so 
trustful  and  sweetly  spoken,  was  itself  a  blessing.  Even 
the  slaves,  under  their  poised  oars,  looked  at  her  and  for 
got  themselves,  as  well  they  might.  The  light  of  the  great 
torch,  kindled  by  the  keeper  of  the  chinampa,  revealed  her 
perfectly.  The  head  slightly  bent,  and  the  hands  crossed 
over  the  breast,  helped  the  prayerful  speech.  Her  eyes  were 
not  upon  the  slaves,  yet  their  effect  was;  and  they  were 


4:80  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


such  eyes  as  give  to  night  the  beauty  of  stars,  while  taking 
nothing  from  it,  neither  depth  nor  darkness. 

The  canoe  put  off. 

"  Farewell,"  said  Io'.  His  warrior-life  was  yet  in  its 
youth. 

"  Farewell,"  said  Hualpa.  And  she  heard  him,  and  knew 
him  thinking  of  his  lost  love. 

In  the  'tzin's  absence  the  garrison  of  the  temple  had  been 
heavily  reinforced.  The  azoteas,  when  he  returned,  was 
covered  with  warriors,  asleep  on  their  mantles,  and  pillowed 
on  their  shields.  He  bade  his  companions  catch  what 
slumber  they  could,  and  went  into  the  grimy  but  full-lighted 
presence-chamber,  and  seated  himself  on  the  step  of  the 
altar.  In  a  little  while  Hualpa  came  in,  and  stopped  before 
him.  as  if  for  speech. 

"  You  have  somewhat  to  say,"  said  the  'tzin,  kindly. 
"  Speak." 

"  A  word,  good  'tzin,  a  single  word.  Io'  lies  upon  his 
mantle ;  he  is  weary,  and  sleeps  well.  I  am  weary,  but  can 
not  sleep.  I  suffer  — 

"What?"  asked  the 'tzin. 

"  Discontent." 

"  Discontent ! " 

"  0  'tzin,  to  follow  you  and  win  your  praise  has  been 
my  greatest  happiness ;  but  as  yet  I  have  done  nothing  by 
myself.  I  pray  you,  give  me  liberty  to  go  where  I  please, 
if  only  for  a  day." 

"  Where  would  you  go  1 " 

"  Where  so  many  have  tried  and  failed,  —  over  the  wall, 
into  the  palace." 

There  was  a  long  silence,  during  which  the  supplicant 
looked  on  the  floor,  and  the  master  at  him. 

"  I  think  I  understand  you,"  the  latter  at  length  said. 
'•  To-morrow  I  will  give  you  answer.  Go  now." 


THE  BATTLE   OF  THE   MANTAS.  481 

Hualpa  touched  the  floor  with  his  palm,  and  left  the 
chamber.  The  'tzin  remained  thoughtful,  motionless.  An 
hour  passed. 

"  Over  the  wall,  into  the  palace ! "  he  said,  musingly. 
"  Not  for  country,  not  for  glory,  —  for  Nenetzin.  Alas, 
poor  lad  !  From  his  life  she  has  taken  the  life.  Over  the 
wall  into  the  —  Sun.  To-morrow  comes  swiftly ;  good  or 
ill,  the  gifts  it  brings  are  from  the  gods.  Patience ! " 

And  upon  the  step  he  spread  his  mantle,  and  slept,  mut 
tering,  "  Over  the  wall,  into  the  palace,  and  she  has  not 
called  him !  Poor  lad  ! " 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    MANTAS. 

E  report  of  a  gun  awoke  the  'tzin  in  the  morning. 
J_  The  great  uproar  of  the  assault,  now  become  familiar 
to  him,  filled  the  chamber.  He  knelt  on  the  step  and  prayed, 
for  there  was  a  cloud  upon  his  spirit,  and  over  the  idol's  stony 
face  there  seemed  to  be  a  cloud.  He  put  on  his  helm  and 
mantle ;  at  the  door  Hualpa  offered  him  his  arms. 

"No,"  he  said,  "bring  me  those  we  took  from  the 
stranger." 

Hualpa  marked  the  gravity  of  his  manner,  and  with  a 
rising  heart  and  a  smile,  the  first  seen  on  his  lips  for  many 
a  day,  he  brought  a  Spanish  shield  and  battle-axe,  and  gave 
them  to  him. 

Then  the  din  below,  bursting  out  in  greater  volume,  drew 

the  'tzin  to  the  verge  of  the  temple.     The  warriors  made 

way  for  him  reverently.     He  looked  down  into  the  square, 

and  through  a  veil  of  smoke  semilucent   saw  Cortes  and  his 

21  EE 


482  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


cavaliers  charge  the  ranks  massed  in  front  of  the  palace 
gate.  The  gate  stood  open,  and  a  crowd  of  the  Tlascalans  were 
pouring  out  of  the  portal,  hauling  one  of  the  towers  whose 
construction  had  been  the  mystery  of  the  days  last  passed  ; 
they  bent  low  to  the  work,  and  cheered  each  other  with  their 
war-cries ;  yet  the  manta  —  so  called  by  Cortes  —  moved 
slowly,  as  if  loath  to  leave.  In  the  same  manner  the  other 
tower  was  drawn  out  of  the  court ;  then,  side  by  side,  both 
were  started  down  the  street,  which  they  filled  so  nearly 
that  room  was  hardly  left  for  the  detachments  that  guarded 
the  Tlascalans  on  the  flanks. 

The  fighting  ceased,  and  silently  the  enemies  stared  at  the 
spectacle,  —  such  power  is  there  in  curiosity. 

At  sight  of  the  structures,  rolling,  rocking,  rumbling,  and 
creaking  dismally  in  every  wheel,  Cortes'  eyes  sparkled  fire- 
like  through  his  visor.  The  'tzin,  on  the  other  hand,  was  dis 
turbed  and  anxious,  although  outwardly  calm  ;  for  the  ob 
jects  of  the  common  wonder  were  enclosed  on  every  side, 
and  he  knew  as  little  what  they  contained  as  of  their  use 
and  operation. 

Slowly  they  rolled  on,  until  past  the  intersection  of  the 
streets ;  there  they  stopped.  Right  and  left  of  them  were 
beautiful  houses  covered  with  warriors  for  the  moment  con 
verted  into  spectators.  A  hush  of  expectancy  everywhere 
prevailed.  The  'tzin  shaded  his  eyes  with  his  hand,  and 
leant  eagerly  forward.  Suddenly,  from  the  sides  of  the 
machine  next  the  walls,  masked  doors  dropped  out,  and  guns, 
charged  to  the  muzzle,  glared  over  the  house-tops,  then  swept 
them  with  fire. 

A  horrible  scream  flew  along  the  street  and  up  to  the 
azoteas  of  the  temple  ;  at  the  same  time,  by  ladders  extended 
to  the  coping  of  the  walls,  the  Christians  leaped  on  the  roofs, 
like  boarders  on  a  ship's  deck,  and  mastered  them  at  once ; 
thereupon  they  returned,  and  were  about  taking  in  the  lad- 


THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  MANTAS.  483 

ders,  when  Cortes  galloped  back,  and,  riding  from  one  to  the 
other,  shouted, — 

"  Ordas !  Avila  !  Mirad  !  Where  are  the  torches  I  gave 
ye  ?  Out  again  !  Leave  not  a  stone  to  shelter  the  dogs  1 
Leave  nothing  but  ashes  !  Pronto,  pronto  !  " 

The  captains  answered  promptly.  With  flambeaux  of 
resinous  pine  and  cotton,  they  fired  all  the  wood-work  of  the 
interior  of  the  buildings.  Smoke  burst  from  the  doors  and 
windows;  then  the  detachments  retreated,  and  were  rolled 
on  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 

Behind  the  manias  there  was  a  strong  rear-guard  of  in 
fantry  and  artillery ;  with  which,  and  the  guards  on  the 
flanks,  and  the  cavaliers  forcing  way  at  the  front,  it  seemed 
impossible  to  avert,  or  even  interrupt,  an  attack  at  once  so 
novel  and  successful. 

The  smoke  from  the  burning  houses,  momentarily  thicken 
ing  and  widening,  was  seen  afar,  and  by  the  heathen  hailed 
with  cries  of  alarm  :  not  so  Cortes ;  riding  everywhere,  in 
the  van,  to  the  rear,  often  stopping  by  the  mantas,  which  he 
regarded  with  natural  affection,  as  an  artist  does  his  last 
work,  he  tasted  the  joy  of  successful  genius.  The  smoke 
rising,  as  it  were,  to  Heaven,  carried  up  his  vows  not  to 
stop  until  the  city,  with  all  its  idolatries,  was  a  heap  of 
ashes  and  lime,  —  a  holocaust  to  the  Mother  such  as  had 
never  been  seen.  The  cheeriness  of  his  constant  cry, 
"  Christo,  Christo  y  Santiago  !  "  communicated  to  his  people, 
and  they  inarched  laughing  and  fighting. 

Opposition  had  now  almost  ceased ;  at  the  approach  of 
the  mantas,  the  house-tops  were  given  up  without  resistance. 
A  general  panic  appeared  to  have  seized  the  pagans  ;  they 
even  vacated  the  street,  so  that  the  cavaliers  had  little  else  to 
do  than  ride  leisurely,  turning  now  and  then  to  see  the  fires 
behind  them,  and  the  tall  machines  come  lumbering  on. 

As  remarked,  when  the  mantas  stopped  at  the  intersection 


484  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


of  the  streets,  the  'tzin  watched  them  eagerly,  for  he  knew 
the  time  had  come  to  make  their  use  manifest ;  he  saw  a 
door  drop,  and  the  jet  of  flame  and  smoke  leap  from  a  gun ; 
he  heard  the  cry  of  agony  from  the  house-tops,  and  the 
deeper  cry  from  all  the  people  ;  to  the  chiefs  around  him  he 
said,  with  steady  voice,  and  as  became  a  leader,  — 

"  Courage,  friends !  We  have  them  now.  Malinche  is 
mad  to  put  his  people  in  such  traps.  Lord  Hualpa,  go  round 
the  place  of  combat  and  see  that  the  first  bridge  is  im 
passable  ;  for  there,  unless  the  towers  have  wings,  and  can 
fly,  they  must  stop.  And  to  you,  Io',"  he  spoke  to  the  lad 
tenderly,  "  I  give  a  command  and  sacred  trust.  Stay  here, 
and  take  care  of  the  gods." 

Io'  kissod  his  hand,  and  said,  fervently,  "  May  the  gods 
care  for  me  as  I  will  for  them  !  " 

To  other  chiefs,  calling  them  by  name,  he  gave  directions 
for  the  renewal  of  the  assault  on  the  palace,  now  weakened 
by  the  sortie,  and  for  the  concentration  of  fresh  companies 
in  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  to  contest  their  return. 

"And  now,  my  good  lord,"  he  said  to  a  cacique,  gray- 
headed,  but  of  magnificent  frame,  "  you  have  a  company  of 
Tezcucans,  formerly  the  guards  of  king  Cacama's  palace. 
Bring  them,  and  follow  me.  Come." 

A  number  of  houses  covering  quite  half  a  square  were  by 
this  time  on  fire.  Those  of  wood  burned  furiously  ;  the 
morning,  however,  was  almost  breathless,  so  that  the  cinders 
did  little  harm.  On  the  left  side  of  the  street  stood  a  build 
ing  of  red  stone,  its  front  profusely  carved,  and  further 
ornamented  with  a  marble  portico,  —  a  palace,  in  fact,  mas 
sively  built,  and  somewhat  higher  than  the  manias.  Its 
entrances  were  barricaded,  and  on  the  roof,  where  an 
enemy  might  be  looked  for,  there  was  not  a  spear,  helm, 
or  sign  of  life,  except  some  fan-palms  and  long  banana- 
branches.  Before  the  stately  front  the  manias  were  at  length 


THE  BATTLE   OF  THE   MANTAS.  485 

hauled.  Immediately  the  door  on  that  side  was  dropped, 
and  the  ladder  fixed,  and  Avila,  who  had  the  command, 
started  with  his  followers  to  take  possession  and  apply  the 
torch.  Suddenly,  the  coping  of  the  palace-front  flamed  with 
feathered  helms  and  points  of  bronze. 

Avila  was  probably  as  skilful  and  intrepid  as  any  of  Cortes' 
captains ;  but  now  he  was  surprised  :  directly  before  him 
stood  Guatamozin,  whom  every  Spaniard  had  come  to  know 
and  respect  as  the  most  rodoubted  of  all  the  warriors  of 
Anahuac  ;  and  he  shone  on  the  captain  a  truly  martial  figure, 
confronting  him  with  Spanish  arms,  a  shield  with  a  face  of 
iron  and  a  battle-axe  of  steel.  Avila  hesitated ;  and  as  he 
did  so,  the  end  of  the  ladder  was  lifted  from  the  wall,  poised 
a  moment  in  the  air,  then  flung  off. 

The  'tzin  had  not  time  to  observe  the  effect  of  the  fall,  for 
a  score  of  men  came  quickly  up,  bringing  a  beam  of  wood  as 
long  and  large  as  the  spar  of  a  brigantine  ;  a  trailing  rope  at 
its  further  end  strengthened  the  likeness.  Resting  the  beam 
on  the  coping  of  the  wall,  at  a  word,  they  plunged  it  forward 
against  the  mania,  which  rocked  under  the  blow.  A  yell 
of  fear  issued  from  within.  The  Tlascalans  strove  to  haul 
the  machine  away,  but  the  Tezcucans  from  their  height 
tossed  logs  and  stones  upon  them,  crushing  many  to  death, 
and  putting  the  rest  in  such  fear  that  their  efforts  were  vain. 
Meantime,  the  beam  was  again  shot  forward  over  the  coping, 
and  with  such  effect  that  the  roof  of  the  manta  sprang  from 
its  fastenings,  and  nearly  toppled  off. 

The  handiwork  so  rudely  treated  was  not  as  stout  as  the 
ships  Martin  Lopez  sailed  on  the  lake.  It  was  simply  a 
square  tower,  two  storiss  high,  erected  on  wheels.  The 
frame  was  enclosed  with  slabs,  pinned  on  vertically,  and 
pierced  with  loopholes.  On  the  sides  there  were  apertures 
ilefended  by  doors.  The  roof,  sloping  hip-fashion,  had  an 
outer  covering  of  undressed  skins  as  protection  against  fire. 


486  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


The  lower  floor  was  for  the  Tlascalans,  should  they  be  driven 
from  the  drag-ropes ;  in  the  second  story  there  was  a  gun, 
some  arquebusiers,  and  a  body  of  pikemen  to  storm  the 
house-tops  ;  so  that  altogether  the  contrivance  could  hardly 
stand  hauling  over  the  street,  much  less  a  battery  like  that 
it  was  then  receiving.  At  the  third  blow  it  became  an  un 
tenable  wreck. 

"  Avila !  "  cried  Cortes.     "  Where  art  thou  ?  " 

The  good  captain,  with  four  of  his  bravest  men,  lay  in 
sensible,  if  not  dead,  under  the  ladder. 

"  Mercy,  O  Mother  of  God,  mercy  !  "  groaned  Cortes  ; 
next  moment  he  was  himself  again. 

"What  do  ye  here,  men?  Out  and  away  before  these 
timbers  tumble  and  crush  ye  ! " 

One  man  stayed. 

"  The  gun,  Seiior,  the  gun  ! "  he  protested. 

Spurring  close  to  the  door,  Cortes  said,  "  As  thou  art  a 
Christian,  get  thee  down,  comrade,  and  quickly.  I  can  bet 
ter  spare  the  gun  than  so  good  a  gunner." 

Then  the  beam  came  again,  and,  with  a  great  crash,  tore 
away  the  side  of  the  manta.  The  gun  rolled  backward,  and 
burst  through  the  opposite  wall  of  the  room.  The  veteran 
disappeared. 

By  this  time  all  eyes  were  turned  to  the  scene.  The 
bowmen  and  arquebusiers  in  the  column  exerted  themselves 
to  cover  their  unfortunate  comrades.  Upon  the  neighboring 
houses  a  few  infidels,  on  the  watch,  yelled  joyously,  — 
"  The  'tzin  !  the  'tzin  ! "  From  them  the  shout,  spread  through 
the  cowering  army,  became,  indeed,  d  battle-cry  significant 
of  success. 

To  me,  good  reader,  the  miracles  of  the  world,  if  any 
there  be,  are  not  the  things  men  do  in  masses,  but  the  sub- 
limer  things  done  by  one  man  over  the  many ;  they  testify 
most  loudly  of  God,  since  without  him  they  could  not 


THE   BATTLE    OF   THE   MANTAS.  487 

have  been.  I  am  too  good  a  Christian  to  say  this  of  a 
heathen ;  nevertheless,  without  the  'tzin  his  country  had 
perished  that  morning.  Back  to  the  roofs  came  the  de 
fenders,  into  the  street  poured  the  companies  again ;  no 
leisure  now  for  the  cavaliers.  "With  the  other  mania  Or- 
das  moved  on  gallantly,  but  the  work  was  hard ;  at  some 
houses  he  failed,  others  he  dared  not  attack.  From  front 
to  rear  the  contest  became  a  battle.  In  the  low  places  of 
the  street  and  pavement  the  blood  flowed  warm,  then  cooled 
in  blackening  pools.  The  smoke  of  the  consuming  houses, 
distinguishable  from  that  of  the  temples,  collected  into  a 
cloud,  and  hung  wide-spread  over  the  combat.  The  yells  of 
Christians  and  infidels,,  fusing  into  a  vast  monotone,  roared 
like  the  sea.  Twice  Mesa  went  to  the  front,  —  the  cava 
liers  had  need  of  him,  —  twice  he  returned  to  the  rear. 

The  wrath  of  the  Aztecs  seemed  especially  directed  against 
the  Tlascalans  tugging  at  the  ropes  of  the  mania  ;  as  a  con 
sequence,  their  quilted  armor  was  torn  to  rags,  and  so  many 
of  them  were  wounded,  so  many  killed,  that  at  every  stop 
page  the  wheels  were  more  difficult  to  start ;  and  to  make 
the  movement  still  more  slow  and  uncertain,  the  carcasses  of 
the  dead  had  to  be  rolled  or  carried  out  of  the  way ;  and 
the  dead,  sooth  to  say,  were  not  always  Aztecs. 

Luis  Marin  halted  to  breathe. 

"  Ola,  companero  !    What  dost  thou  there  ]  " 

"  By  all  the  saints  !  "  answered  Alvarado,  on  foot,  tighten 
ing  his  saddle-girth.  "  Was  ever  the  like  ?  It  hath  been 
strike,  strike,  —  kill,  kill,  —  for  an  hour.  I  am  dead  in  the 
right  arm  from  finger  to  shoulder.  And  now  here  is  a  buckle 
that  refuseth  its  work.  Caramba!  My  glove  is  slippery 
with  blood ! " 

And  so  step  by  step,  —  each  one  bought  with  a  life,  —  the 
Christians  won  their  way  to  the  first  bridge  :  the  floor  was 
gone  I  Cortes  reined  his  horse,  bloody  from  hoof  to  frontlet, 


488  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

by  the  edge  of  the  chasm.  Since  daybreak  fighting,  and  but 
a  square  gained  !  The  water,  never  so  placid,  was  the  utmost 
limit  of  his  going.  He  looked  at  the  mania,  now,  like  that 
of  Avila,  a  mocking  failure.  He  looked  again,  and  a  blas 
phemy  beyond  the  absolution  of  Olm  edo,  I  fear,  broke  the 
clenching  of  his  jaws,  —  not  for  the  machines,  or  the  hopes 
they  had  raised,  but  the  days  their  construction  lost  him. 
As  he  looked,  through  a  rift  in  the  cloud  still  rising  along 
the  battle's  track,  he  saw  the  great  temple ;  gay  banners  and 
gorgeous  regalia,  all  the  splendor  of  barbaric  war,  filled  that 
view,  and  inspired  him.  To  the  cavaliers,  close  around  and 
in  waiting,  he  turned.  The  arrows  smote  his  mail  and 
theirs,  yet  he  raised  his  visor  :  the  face  was  calm,  even  smil 
ing,  for  the  will  is  a  quality  apart  from  mind  and  passion. 

"  We  will  go  back,  gentlemen,"  he  said.  "  The  city  is  on 
fire,  —  enough  for  one  day.  And  hark  ye,  gentlemen.  We 
have  had  enough  of  common  blood.  Let  us  go  now  and  see 
of  what  the  heathen  gods  are  made." 

His  hearers  were  in  the  mood ;  they  raised  their  shields 
and  shouted,  — 

"  To  the  temple !  To  the  temple !  For  the  love  of 
Christ,  to  the  temple  !  " 

The  cry  sped  down  the  column ;  and  as  the  men  caught  its 
meaning  they  faced  about  of  their  own  will.  Wounds,  weari 
ness,  and  disappointments  were  forgotten  ;  the  rudest  soldier 
became  a~zealot  on  the  instant.  Al  templo  !  Adelante,  ade- 
lante  !  rose  like  a  new  chorus,  piercing  the  battle's  monotone. 

Cortes  stood  in  his  stirrups,  and  lo  !  the  enemy,  ranked 
close,  like  corn  in  the  full  ear,  yet  outreaching  his  vision,  — 
plumed,  bannered,  brilliant,  and  terrible. 

"  Close  and  steady,  swords  of  the  Church  !  What  ye  see 
is  but  grass  for  the  cutting.  Yonder  is  the  temple  we  seek 
Follow  me.  Adelante!  C/tristo  y  Santiago  ! " 

So  saying,  he  spurred  in  deep  amongst  the  infidels. 


OVER  THE  WALL, — INTO  THE  PALACE.  489 


CHAPTER  IX. 

OVER    THE    WALL, INTO    THE    PALACE. 

r  I  iHE  duty  Hualpa  had  been  charged  with  by  the  'tzin 
_l_  was  not  difficult  of  performance  ;  for  the  bridges  of 
the  capital,  even  those  along  the  beautiful  street,  were  much 
simpler  structures  than  they  appeared.  When  he  had  seen 
the  balustrades  and  flooring  and  the  great  timbers  that 
spanned  the  canal  —  the  first  one  south  of  the  old  palace  — 
torn  from  their  places,  and  hauled  off  by  the  canoemen  whom 
he  had  collected  for  the  purpose,  he  returned  to  the  temple 
to  rejoin  his  master. 

The  assault  upon  the  palace,  when  he  reached  that  point, 
was  more  furious  than  at  any  previous  time.  The  companies 
in  the  street  were  fighting  with  marvellous  courage,  while  the 
missiles  from  the  azoteas  and  westward  terraces  of  the  tem 
ple,  and  all  the  houses  around,  literally  darkened  the  air. 
Amidst  the  clamor  Hualpa  caught  at  intervals  the  cry,  — 
"  The  'tzin,  the  'tzin  !  "  He  listened,  and  all  the  loyal  thou 
sands  seemed  shouting,  "  The  'tzin,  the  'tzin !  Al-a- 
lalal" 

"  Has  anything  befallen  the  'tzin  I  "  he  asked  of  an  ac 
quaintance. 

"  Yes,  thanks  to  HuitziT  !  He  has  broken  one  of  Ma 
li  nche's  towers  to  pieces,  and  killed  everybody  in  it." 

Hualpa's  love  quickened  suddenly.  "  Blessed  be  all  the 
gods  ! "  he  cried,  and,  passing  on,  ascended  to  the  azoteas. 
It  may  have  been  the  battle,  full  of  invocations,  as  battles 
always  are  ;  or  it  may  have  been  that  Io',  in  full  enjoyment 
of  his  command,  and  so  earnest  in  its  performance,  stimulated 

his  ambition  ;  or  it  may  have  been  the  influence  of  his  pecu 
HI* 


490  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


liar  sorrow,  the  haunting  memories  of  his  love,  and  she,  its 
star,  separated  from  him  by  so  little,  —  something  made  him 
restless  and  feverish.  He  talked  with  the  caciques  and 
priests ;  he  clomb  the  turret,  and  watched  the  smoke  go 
softly  up,  and  hide  itself  in  the  deeper  blue  of  the  sky  ;  with 
Io',  he  stood  on  the  temple's  verge,  and  witnessed  the  fight, 
at  times  using  bow  and  sling ;  but  nothing  brought  him  re 
lief.  The  opportunity  he  had  so  long  desired  was  here  call 
ing  him,  and  passing  away.  0  for  an  hour  of  liberty  to 
enact  himself ! 

Unable  to  endure  the  excitement,  he  started  in  search  of 
the  'tzin,  knowing  that,  Avherever  he  was,  there  was  action, 
if  not  opportunity.  At  that  moment  he  saw  a  cacique  in 
the  street  plant  a  ladder  against  the  wall  of  the  palace  not 
far  from  the  main  gate.  The  Tlascalans  defending  at  that 
point  tried  to  throw  it  off,  but  a  shower  of  stones  from 
the  terrace  of  the  temple  deluged  them,  and  they  disap 
peared.  Up  went  the  cacique,  up  went  his  followers ; 
they  gained  the  crest ;  then  the  conflict  passed  from 
Hualpa's  view. 

"  Io',"  he  said,  "  when  the  'tzin  comes  back,  tell  him  I  have 
gone  to  make  a  way  for  him  through  yon  wall." 

"  Have  a  care,  comrade  ;  have  a  care  ! " 

Hualpa  put  an  arm  around  him,  and  replied,  smiling, 
"  There  is  one  over  the  wall  now  :  if  he  fears  not,  shall  1 1 
And  then,"  —  he  whispered  low,  —  "  Nenetzin  will  despise 
me  if  I  come  not  soon." 

A  dawning  fell  upon  Io',  and  from  that  time  he  knew  the 
power  of  love. 

"  The  gods  go  with  you  !     Farewell." 

Hualpa  set  about  his  purpose  deliberately.  Near  the  door 
of  the  presence-chamber  there  was  a  pile  of  trophies,  shields, 
arms,  and  armor  of  men  and  horses  ;  he  made  some  selec 
tions  from  the  heap,  and  carried  them  into  the  chamber. 


OVER  THE  WALL,  —  INTO  THE  PALACE.  491 

When  he  came  out,  iinder  his  panache  there  was  a  steel  cap, 
and  under  his  mantle  a  cuirass  :  and  to  some  dead  Spaniard 
he  was  further  beholden  for  a  shield  and  battle-axe,  —  the 
latter  so  called,  notwithstanding  it  had  a  head  like  a  ham 
mer,  and  a  handle  of  steel  pointed  at  the  end  and  more  than 
a  yard  in  length. 

Thus  prepared,  he  went  down  into  the  street,  and  forced 
his  way  to  the  ladder  planted  near  the  gate  ;  thence  to  the 
crest  of  the  wall.  A  hundred  arrows  splintered  against  his 
shield,  as  he  looked  down  upon  the  combat  yet  maintained 
by  the  brave  cacique  at  the  foot  of  the  banquette. 

The  wall,  as  I  think  I  have  elsewhere  said,  was  built  of 
blocks  of  wrought  stone,  laid  in  cement  only  a  little  less 
hard  than  the  stone,  and  consequently  impervious  to  any 
battery  against  its  base  ;  at  the  same  time,  taken  piece  by 
piece  from  the  top,  its  demolition  was  easy.  Hualpa  paused 
not ;  between  the  blocks  he  drove  the  pointed  handle  of  his 
axe  :  a  moment,  and  down  fell  the  capping-stone ;  another 
followed,  and  another.  Alike  indifferent  to  the  arrows  of 
the  garrison  and  the  acclamations  of  the  witnesses  outside, 
looking  neither  here  nor  there,  bending  every  faculty  to  the 
task,  he  did  in  a  few  minutes  what  seemed  impossible  : 
through  a  breach  wide  enough  for  the  passage  of  a  double 
sedan,  foemen  within  and  without  the  wall  saw  each  other. 

And  there  was  hastening  thither  of  detachments.  Up  the 
ladder  and  over  the  wall  leaped  the  devoted  infidels,  noth 
ing  deterred  by  waiting  swords  and  lances ;  striking  or 
dying,  they  shouted,  "The  'tzin,  the  'tzin !  Al-a-lalaf" 
Live  or  die,  they  strove  to  cover  the  steadfast  workman  in 
the  breach. 

De  Olid,  at  the  time  in  charge  of  the  palace,  drew  nigh, 
attracted  by  the  increasing  uproar. 

"  Ye  fools  !  Out  on  ye  !  See  ye  not  that  the  dog  is  hid 
ing  behind  a  Christian  shield .'  Eun,  fly,  bring  a  brace  of 


492  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


arquebusiers  !  Bring  the  reserve  guns  !  Upon  them,  gentle 
men  !  Swords  and  axes  !  The  Mother  for  us  all  !  Christo, 
Christo!" 

And  on  foot,  and  in  full  armor,  he  pushed  into  the  press  ; 
for,  true  to  his  training,  he  saw  that  the  laborer  behind  the 
shining  shield  was  more  worthy  instant  notice  than  the 
hordes  clambering  over  the  wall. 

Still  the  breach  widened  and  deepened,  and  every  rock 
that  tumbled  from  its  place  contributed  to  the  roadway  form 
ing  on  both  sides  of  the  wall  to  facilitate  the  attack.  But 
now  the  guns  were  coming,  and  the  arquebusiers  made  haste 
to  plant  their  pieces,  against  which  the  good  shield  might 
not  defend.  Suddenly  Hualpa  stood  up,  his  surcoat  whit 
ened  with  the  dust  of  the  mortar ;  without  a  word  he  de 
scended  to  the  street :  the  work  was  done,  —  a  way  for  the 
'tzin  was  ready  !  Scarcely  had  he  touched  the  pavement 
before  the  guns  opened ;  scarcely  had  the  guns  opened 
before  the  gorge  was  crowded  with  infidels  rushing  in.  The 
palace,  wanting  the  column  absent  Avith  Cortes,  was  in  dan 
ger.  To  the  one  point  every  Christian  was  withdrawn ; 
even  the  sick  and  wounded  staggered  from  the  hospital  to 
repel  the  attack.  With  all  his  gallantry,  De  Olid  was  beaten 
slowly  back  to  the  house.  Cursed  he  the  infidels,  prayed 
he  the  return  of  Cortes,  —  still  he  went  back.  In  the  midst 
of  his  perplexity,  a  messenger  came  to  tell  him  the  enemy  was 
breaking  through  the  wall  of  the  western  front. 

Hualpa  had  not  only  made  another  breach,  —  De  Olid 
found  him  inside  the  enclosure,  with  a  support  already  too 
strong  for  the  Tlascalans. 

The  fight  the  good  captain  was  called  to  witness  was  that 
of  native  against  native ;  and,  had  the  peril  been  less  de 
manding,  he  would  have  enjoyed  its  novelties.  An  astonish 
ing  rattle  of  shields  and  spears,  mixed  with  the  clash  of 
waquahnitls,  and  a  deafening  outcry  from  the  contending 


OVER  THE  WALL,  —  INTO  THE  PALACE.  493 

tribes  saluted  him.  Over  the  fighting  lines  the  air  was  thick 
with  stones  and  flying  javelins  and  tossing  banners.  Quar 
ter  was  not  once  asked.  The  grim  combatants  engaged  each 
other  to  conquer  or  die.  Hither  and  thither  danced  the 
priests,  heedless  of  the  danger,  now  cursing  the  laggards, 
now  blessing  the  brave.  And  at  times  so  shrilly  blew  the 
conchs  that  where  they  were  nothing  might  be  heard  but  the 
shriller  medley  of  war-cry  answering  war-cry. 

I  doubt  if  the  captain  took  other  note  of  the  fight  than 
its  menace  to  the  palace;  and  if  he  prayed  the  return  of 
Cortes  a  little  more  fervently  than  before,  it  was  not  from 
fear,  or  confusion  of  mind ;  for  straightway  he  appealed  to 
that  arm  which  had  been  the  last  and  saving  resort  of  the 
Christians  in  many  a  former  strait.  Soon  every  disengaged 
gun  was  in  position  before  the  western  door  of  the  palace, 
loaded  full  of  stones  not  larger  than  bird's-eggs,  and  trained, 
through  the  crowd,  upon  the  breach,  —  and  afterwards  there 
were  those  who  charged  that  the  captain  did  not  wait  for  all 
his  Tlascalans  to  get  out  of  the  way.  The  guns  opened  with 
united  voices  ;  palace  and  paved  earth  trembled ;  and  the 
smoke,  returning  upon  the  pieces,  enveloped  everything,  in 
somuch  that  the  door  of  the  house  was  not  to  be  seen,  nor 
was  friend  distinguishable  from  enemy. 

If  my  reader  has  been  in  battle,  he  knows  the  eifect  of 
that  fire  too  well  to  require  description  of  me ;  he  can  hear 
the  cries  of  the  wounded,  and  see  the  ghastly  wrecks  on  the 
pavement ;  he  can  see,  too,  the  recoil  of  the  Aztecs,  and  the 
rush  of  the  Tlascalans,  savagely  eager  to  follow  up  their  ad 
vantage.  I  leave  the  scene  to  his  fancy,  and  choose  rather 
to  go  with  a  warrior  who,  availing  himself  of  the  shrouding 
of  the  smoke,  pushed  through  the  throng  behind  the  guns, 
and  passed  into  the  palace.  His  steps  were  hurried,  and  he 
looked  neither  to  the  right  nor  left ;  those  whom  he  brushed 
out  of  the  way  had  but  time  to  see  him  pass,  or  to  catch  an 


494  THE   FAIR   GOD. 


instant's  view  of  a  figure  of  motley  appurtenances,  —  a  Chris 
tian  shield  and  battle-axe,  a  close  cap  of  steel,  and  the  gleam 
of  a  corselet  under  the  colorless  tatters  of  a  surcoat  of  feather- 
work,  —  a  figure  im possible  to  identify  as  friend  or  foe.  The 
reader,  however,  will  recognize  Hualpa  coming  out  of  the 
depths  of  the  battle,  but  going  —  whither  ? 

Once  before,  as  may  be  remembered,  he  had  been  in  the  an 
cient  house,  —  the  time  when,  in  a  n't  of  shame  and  remorse, 
he  had  come  to  lay  his  lordship  and  castle  at  the  king's  feet ; 
then  he  had  entered  by  the  eastern  portal,  and  passed  to  the 
royal  presence  under  guidance :  this  time  his  entry  was  from 
the  west,  and  he  was  alone,  and  unacquainted  with  the  vast 
interior,  its  halls,  passages,  courts,  and  chambers.  In  his  first 
visit,  moreover,  peace  had  been  the  rule,  and  he  could  not 
go  amiss  for  friends  :  now  the  palace  was  a  leaguered  citadel, 
and  he  could  hardly  go  amiss  for  enemies. 

Whatever  his  purpose,  he  held  boldly  on.  It  is  possible 
he  counted  on  the  necessities  of  the  battle  requiring,  as  in 
fact  they  did,  the  presence  of  every  serviceable  man  of  the 
garrison.  The  few  he  met  passed  him  in  haste,  and  without 
question.  He  avoided  the  courts  and  occupied  rooms.  In 
the  heart  of  the  building  he  was  sensible  that  the  walls  and 
very  air  vibrated  to  the  roar  without ;  and  as  the  guns  in 
the  eastern  front  answered  those  in  the  western,  he  was  ad 
vised  momentarily  of  the  direction  in  which  he  was  proceed 
ing,  and  that  his  friends  still  maintained  the  combat. 

Directly  three  men  passed  clad  in  nequen ;  they  were  talk 
ing  earnestly,  and  scarcely  noticed  him  ;  after  them  came 
another,  very  old,  and  distinguished  by  a  green  maxtlatl  over 
his  white  tunic, —  one  of  the  king's  councillors. 

"  Stay,  uncle,"  said  Hualpa,  "  stay  ;  I  have  a  question 
to  ask  you." 

The  old  man  seemed  startled. 

"  Who  are  you  ?  "  he  inquired. 


OVER  THE  WALL  —  INTO  THE  PALACE.     495 

Hualpa  did  not  appear  to  hear  him,  but  asked,  "  Is  not  the 
princess  Nenetzin  with  the  king,  her  father  ?  " 

"  Follow  this  hall  to  its  end,"  replied  the  ancient,  coldly. 
"  She  is  there,  but  not  with  the  king,  her  father.  Who  is 
he,"  he  continued,  after  a  pause,  —  "  who  is  he  that  asks  for 
the  false  princess  1 " 

With  a  groan  Hualpa  passed  on. 

The  hall  ended  in  a  small  patio,  which,  at  sight,  declared 
itself  a  retreat  for  love.  The  walls  were  finished  with  a  con 
fusion  of  arabesque  moulding,  brilliantly  and  variously 
colored  ;  the  tracery  around  the  open  doors  and  windows  was 
a  marvel  of  the  art ;  there  were  flowers  on  the  floor,  and  in 
curious  stands,  urns,  and  swinging  baskets ;  there  were  also 
delicate  vines,  and  tropical  trees  dwarfed  for  the  place, 
amongst  which  one  full  grown  banana  lifted  its  long  branches 
of  velvet  green,  and  seemed  to  temper  the  light  with  dewy 
coolness ;  in  the  centre,  there  was  a  dead  fountain.  Indeed, 
the  patio  could  have  been  but  for  the  one  purpose.  Here, 
walled  in  from  the  cares  of  empire,  where  only  the  day  was 
bold  enough  to  come  unbidden,  the  wise  Axaya'  and  his  less 
fortunate  successors,  Tecociatzin  and  Avizotl,  forgot  their 
state,  and  drank  their  cups  of  love,  and  were  as  other  men. 

All  the  beauty  of  the  place,  however,  was  lost  on  Hualpa. 
He  saw  only  ISTenetzin.  She  was  sitting,  at  the  time,  in  a 
low  sedilium,  her  white  garments  faintly  tinted  by  the  scarlet 
stripes  of  a  canopy  extended  high  overhead,  to  protect  her 
from  the  too  ardent  sun. 

At  the  sound  of  his  sandals,  she  started  ;  and  as  he  ap 
proached  her,  she  arose  in  alarm.  In  sooth,  his  toilette  was 
not  that  most  affected  for  the  wooing  of  women ;  he  brought 
with  him  the  odor  of  battle ;  and  as  he  knelt  but  a  little  way 
from  her,  she  saw  there  was  blood  upon  his  hands,  and  upon 
the  axe  and  shield  he  laid  beside  him. 

"  Who  are  you  1 "  she  asked. 


496  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


He  took  off  the  steel  cap  and  shapeless  panache,  and  looked 
up  in  her  face. 

"  The  lord  Hualpa  !  "  she  exclaimed.  Then  a  thought 
flashed  upon  her  mind,  and  with  terror  in  every  feature,  she 
cried,  "  Ah,  you  have  taken  the  palace  !  And  the  Tonatiah  ?  " 
—  she  clasped  her  hands  despairingly,  —  "  dead  1  a  captive  ? 
Where  is  he  1  I  will  save  him.  Take  me  to  him." 

At  these  words,  the  uncertain  expression  with  which  he 
had  looked  up  to  her  upon  baring  his  head  changed  to  utter 
hopelessness.  The  hurried  sentences  tore  his  heart,  like 
talons.  For  this  he  had  come  to  her  through  so  much 
peril!  For  this  he  was  then  braving  death  at  her  feet !  His 
head  sunk  upon  his  breast,  and  he  said,  — 

"  The  palace  is  not  ours.  The  Tonatiah  yet  lives,  and  is 
free." 

With  a  sigh  of  relief,  she  resumed  her  seat,  asking,  — 

"  How  came  you  here  1 " 

He  answered  without  raising  his  eyes,  "  The  keepers  of  the 
palace  are  strong  ;  they  can  stay  the  thousands,  but  they 
could  not  keep  me  out." 

The  face  of  the  listener  softened ;  she  saw  his  love,  and 
all  his  heroism,  but  said,  coldly,  — 

"  I  have  heard  that  wise  men  do  such  things  only  of 
necessity." 

"  I  do  not  pretend  to  wisdom,"  he  replied.  "  Had  I  been 
wise,  I  would  not  have  loved  you.  Since  our  parting  at 
Chapultepec,  where  I  was  so  happy,  I  have  thought  you 
might  be  a  prisoner  here,  and  in  my  dreams  I  have  heard 
you  call  me.  And  a  little  while  ago,  on  the  temple,  I 
said  to  Io',  '  Nenetzin  will  despise  me,  if  I  come  not  soon.' 
Tell  me,  0  Nenetzin,  that  you  are  a  prisoner,  and  I  will  take 
you  away.  Tell  me  that  the  stories  told  of  you  on  the 
streets  are  not  true,  and  — 

"  What  stories  1 "  she  asked. 


OVER  THE  WALL  —  INTO  THE  PALACE.      497 

"  Alas,  that  it  should  be  mine  to  tell  them  !  And  to  you, 
I^enetzin,  my  beautiful  !  " 

With  a  strong  effort,  he  put  down  the  feeling,  and  went 
on,  — 

"  There  be  those  who  say  that  the  good  king,  your  father, 
is  in  this  prison  by  your  betrayal ;  they  say,  too,  that  you 
are  the  keeper  of  a  shrine  unknown  to  the  gods  of  Anahuac  ; 
and  yet  more  shamelessly,  they  say  you  abide  here  with  the 
Tonatiah,  unmindful  of  honor,  father,  or  gods  known  or  un 
known.  Tell  me,  0  Nenetzin,  tell  me,  I  pray  you,  that 
these  are  the  tales  of  liars.  If  you  cannot  be  mine,  at  least 
let  me  go  hence  with  cause  to  think  you  in  purity  like  the 
snow  on  the  mountain-top.  My  heart  is  at  your  feet,  —  O 
crush  me  not  utterly  !  " 

Thereupon,  she  arose,  with  flushed  face  and  flashing  eyes, 
never  so  proud,  never  so  womanly. 

"  Lord  Hualpa,  were  you  more  or  less  to  me  than  you  are, 
I  would  make  outcry,  and  have  you  sent  to  death.  You 
cannot  understand  me ;  yet  I  will  answer  —  because  of  the 
love  which  brought  you  here,  I  will  answer." 

She  went  into  a  chamber,  and  returning,  held  up  the  iron 
cross,  more  precious  to  her,  I  fear,  as  the  gift  of  Alvarado 
than  as  the  symbol  of  Christ. 

"  Look,  lord  Hualpa !  This  speaks  to  me  of  a  religion 
better  than  that  practised  in  the  temples,  and  of  a  God 
mightier  than  all  those  known  in  Anahuac,  —  a  God  whom 
it  is  useless  to  resist,  who  may  not  be  resisted,  —  the  only 
God.  There,  in  my  chamber,  is  an  altar  to  Him,  upon 
which  rests  only  this  cross  and  such  flowers  as  I  can  gather 
here  in  the  morning ;  that  is  the  shrine  of  which  you  have 
heard  upon  the  street.  I  worship  at  no  other.  As  to  the 
king,  I  did  come  and  tell  the  strangers  of  the  attack  he 
ordered.  Lord  Hualpa,  to  me,  as  is  the  destiny  of  every 
woman,  the  hour  came  to  choose  between  love  and  father.  I 

FF 


498  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


could  not  else.  What  harm  has  come  of  my  choice1?  Is 
not  the  king  safe  1 " 

At  that  moment,  the  noise  which  had  all  the  time  been 
heard  in  the  patio,  as  of  a  battle  up  in  the  air,  swelled 
trebly  loud.  The  tendrils  of  the  vines  shook  ;  the  floor 
trembled. 

" Hark  !  "  she  said,  with  an  expression  of  dread.  "Is  he 
not  safer  than  that  other  for  whom  I  forsook  him?  Yet 
I  thought  to  save  them  both  ;  and  saved  they  shall  be  !  "  she 
added,  with  a  confident  smile.  "The  God  I  worship  can 
save  them,  and  He  will." 

Then  she  became  silent ;  and  as  he  could  tell  by  her  face 
that  she  was  struggling  with  a  painful  thought,  he  waited, 
listening  intently.  At  length  she  spoke,  this  time  with 
downcast  eyes  :  — 

"  It  would  be  very  pleasant,  0  Hualpa,  to  have  you  go 
away  thinking  me  pure  as  snow  on  the  mountain-top.  And 
if  —  if  I  am  not,  —  then  in  this  cross  "  —  and  she  kissed  the 
symbol  tearfully  —  "  there  is  safety  for  me.  I  know  there  is 
a  love  that  can  purify  all  things." 

The  sensibilities  are  not  alike  in  all  persons  ;  but  it  is 
not  true,  as  some  philosophers  think,  that  infidels,  merely 
because  they  are  such,  are  incapable  of  either  great  joy  or 
great  grief.  The  mother  of  El  Chico  reviled  him  because  he 
took  his  last  look  at  Granada  through  tears ;  not  less  poig 
nant  was  the  sorrow  of  Hualpa,  looking  at  his  love,  by  her 
own  confession  lost  to  him  forever ;  his  head  drooped,  and 
he  settled  down  and  fell  forward  upon  his  face,  crushed  by 
the  breath  of  a  woman,  —  he  whom  a  hundred  shields  had 
not  sufficed  to  stay  ! 

For  a  time  nothing  was  heard  in  the  patio  but  the  battle. 
Nenetzin  stirred  not ;  she  was  in  the  mood  superinduced  by 
pity  and  remorse,  when  the  mind  merges  itself  in  the  heart, 
and  is  lost  in  excess  of  feeling. 


THE  WAY  THROUGH  THE  WALL.  499 

At  length  the  spell  was  broken.  A  woman  rushed  in, 
clapping  her  hands  joyfully,  and  crying,  — 

"  Be  glad,  be  glad,  O  Nenetzin  !  Malinche  has  come 
back,  and  we  are  saved  !  " 

And  more  the  Dona  Marina  would  have  said,  but  her  eyes 
fell  upon  the  fallen  man,  and  she  stopped. 

Nenetzin  told  his  story,  —  the  story  women  never  tire  of 
hearing. 

"  If  he  stays  here,  he  dies,"  said  Marina,  weeping. 

"  He  shall  not  die.  I  will  save  him  too,"  said  Nenetzin  ; 
and  she  went  to  him,  and  took  his  hands,  bloody  as  they 
were,  and,  by  gentle  Avords,  woke  him  from  his  stupor. 
Mechanically  he  took  his  cap,  shield,  and  mace,  and  followed 
her,  —  he  knew  not  whither. 

And  she  paused  not  until  he  was  safely  delivered  to 
Maxtla,  in  the  quarters  occupied  by  the  king. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  WAY  THROUGH  THE  WALL. 

A  L  TEMPLO,  al  templof  to  the  temple!"  shouted 
-L\-  Cortes,  as  he  charged  the  close  ranks  of  the  enemy. 

"  Al  templo  !  "  answered  the  cavaliers,  plunging  forward  in 
chivalric  rivalry. 

And  from  the  column  behind  them  rolled  the  hoarse  echo, 
with  the  words  of  command  superadded,  — 

"  Al  templo  !  Adelante,  adelante  !  —  forward  ! 

Not  a  Spaniard  there  but  felt  the  inspiration  of  the  cry ; 
felt  himself  a  soldier  of  Christ,  marching  to  a  battle  of  the 
gods,  the  true  against  the  false;  yet  the  way  was  hard, 
harder  than  ever ;  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  the  noon  came 


500  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


before  Cortes  at  last  spurred  into  the  space  in  front  of  the 
old  palace. 

The  first  object  to  claim  attention  there  was  the  temple 
against  which  the  bigotry  of  the  Christians  had  been  so  sud 
denly  and  shrewdly  directed,  —  shrewdly,  because  in  the 
glory  of  its  conquest  the  failure  of  the  manias  was  certain  to 
be  forgotten.  In  such  intervals  of  the  fight  as  he  could 
snatch,  the  leader  measured  the  pile  with  a  view  to  the 
attack.  Standing  in  his  stirrups,  he  traced  out  the  path  to 
its  summit,  beginning  at  the  gate  of  the  coatapantli,  then  up 
the  broad  stairs,  and  around  the  four  terraces  to  the  azoteas, 
—  a  distance  of  nearly  a  mile,  the  whole  crowded  with 
warriors,  whose  splendid  regalia  published  them  lords  and 
men  of  note,  in  arms  to  die,  if  need  be,  for  glory  and  the 
gods.  As  he  looked,  Sandoval  rode  to  him. 

"  Turn  thine  eyes  hither,  Senor,  —  to  the  palace,  the 
palace  ! ' 

Cortes  dropped  back  into  his  saddle,  and  glanced  that 
way. 

"  By  the  Mother  of  Christ,  they  have  broken  through 
the  wall ! " 

He  checked  his  horse. 

"  Escobar,"  he  said,  calmly,  through  his  half-raised  visor, 
"  take  thou  one  hundred  men,  the  last  in  the  column,  and 
attack  the  temple.  Hearest  thou  1  Kill  all  thou  findest ! 
I^ay,  I  recollect  it  is  a  people  with  two  heads,  of  which  I 
have  but  one.  Bring  me  the  other,  if  thou  canst  find  him. 
I  mean  the  butcher  they  call  the  high  priest.  And  more, 
Senor  Alonzo  :  when  thou  hast  taken  the  idolatrous  moun 
tain,  burn  the  towers,  and  fear  not  to  tumble  the  bloody 
gods  into  the  square.  Thy  battle  will  be  glorious.  On  thy 
side  God,  the  Son,  and  Mother  !  Thou  canst  not  faiL" 

"  And  thou,  Olea,"  he  added  to  another,  "  get  thee 
down  the  street,  and  hasten  Mesa  and  his  supports.  Tell 


THE  "WAY  THROUGH  THE  WALL.  501 


them  the  infidels  are  at  the  door  of  the  palace,  and  that  the 
captain  Christobal  hath  scarce  room  to  lift  his  axe.  And 
further,  —  as  speed  is  everything  now,  —  bid  Ordas  out  with 
the  gun,  and  fire  the  mania,  which  hath  done  its  work. 
Spare  not  thy  horse  !  " 

With  the  last  word,  Cortes  shut  his  visor,  and,  griping  his 
axe,  spurred  to  the  front,  shouting,  — 

"  To  the  palace,  gentlemen !  for  love  of  Christ  and  good 
comrades.  Eescue,  rescue  !  " 

Down  the  column  sped  the  word,  —  then  forward  resist- 
lessly,  through  the  embattled  gate,  into  the  enclosure ; 
and  none  too  soon,  for,  as  Cortes  had  said,  though  at  the 
time  witless  of  the  truth,  the  Aztecs  were  threatening  the 
very  doors  of  the  palace. 

Escobar,  elated  with  the  task  assigned  him,  arranged  his 
men,  and  made  ready  for  the  assault.  The  infidels  beheld 
his  preparation  with  astonishment.  All  eyes,  theretofore 
bent  upon  the  conflict  in  the  palace  yard,  now  fixed  upon 
the  little  band  so  boldly  proposing  to  scale  the  sacred 
heights.  A  cry  came  up  the  street :  "  The  'tzin,  the  'tzin  !  " 
then  the  'tzin  himself  came ;  and  as  he  passed  through 
the  gate  of  the  coatapantli,  the  thousands  recognized  him, 
and  breathed  freely.  "  The  'tzin  has  come  !  The  gods  are 
safe  ! "  so  they  cheered  each  other. 

The  good  captain  led  his  men  to  the  gate  of  the  coatapantli. 
With  difficulty  he  gained  entrance.  As  if  to  madden  the 
infidels,  already  fired  by  a  zeal  as  great  as  his  own,  the 
dismal  thunder  of  the  great  drum  of  Huitzil'  rolled  down 
from  the  temple,  overwhelming  all  other  sounds.  Slowly  he 
penetrated  the  enclosure ;  closely  his  command  followed 
him  ;  yet  not  all  of  them  ;  before  he  reached  the  stairway  he 
was  fighting  for,  the  hundred  were  but  ninety. 

Twenty  minutes,  —  thirty  :  at  last  Escobar  set  his  foot  on 
the  first  step  of  the  ascent.  There  he  stopped  ;  a  shield  of 


502  THE   FAIR   GOD. 


iron  clashed  against  his ;  his  helmet  rang  with  a  deadly 
blow.  When  he  saw  light  again,  he  was  outside  the  sacred 
wall,  borne  away  by  his  retreating  countrymen,  of  whom  not 
one  re-entered  the  palace  unwounded. 

Cortes,  meantime,  with  sword  and  axe,  cleared  the  palace 
of  assailants ;  and,  as  if  the  day's  work  were  done,  he 
prepared  to  dismount.  Don  Christobal,  holding  his  stirrup, 
feaid,  — 

"  Cierto,  Senor,  thou  art  welcome.  I  do  indeed  kiss  thy 
hand.  I  thank  thee." 

"  Not  so,  captain,  not  so.  By  my  conscience,  we  are  the 
debtors  !  I  will  hear  nothing  else.  It  is  true  we  came  not  a 
moment  too  soon,"  —  he  glanced  at  the  breach  in  the  wall, 
and  shook  his  head  gravely,  —  "  but  —  I  speak  what  may 
not  be  gainsaid  —  thou  hast  saved  the  palace." 

More  he  would  have  said  in  the  same  strain,  but  that  a 
sentinel  on  the  roof  cried  out,  — 

"  Ola,  Senares  !  " 

"  What  wouldst  thou  1 "  asked  Cortes,  quickly. 

"  I  am  an  old  soldier,  Senor  Hernan,  —  " 

"  To  the  purpose,  varlet,  to  the  purpose  ! " 

"  —  whom  much  experience  hath  taught  not  to  ex 
press  himself  hastily ;  therefore,  if  thy  orders  were  well 
done,  Senor,  whither  would  our  comrades  over  the  way  be 
going  1 " 

"  To  the  top  of  the  temple,"  said  Cortes,  gravely,  while  all 
around  him  laughed. 

"  Then  I  may  say  safely,  Senor,  that  they  will  go  round 
the  world  before  they  arrive  there.  They  come  this  way  fast 
as  men  can  who  have  to  —  " 

A  long,  exulting  cry  from  the  infidels  cut  the  speech  short ; 
and  the  party,  turning  to  the  temple,  saw  it  alive  with 
waving  sashes  and  tossing  shields. 

"  To  horse,  gentlemen  !  "    said  Cortes,  quietly,  but  with 


THE  WAY  THROUGH  THE  WALL.        503 

flashing  eyes.  "  Satan  hath  ruled  yon  pile  long  enough.  I 
will  now  tilt  with  him.  Let  the  trumpets  be  sounded  ! 
Muster  the  army  !  God's  service  hath  become  our  necessity. 
Haste  ye ! " 

Out  of  the  gate,  opened  to  receive  Escobar  and  his  bruised 
followers,  marched  three  hundred  chosen  Christians,  with  as 
many  thousand  Tlascalans.  In  their  midst  went  Olmedo, 
under  his  gown  a  suit  of  armor,  in  his  hand  a  lance,  and  on 
that  a  brazen  crucifix.  Other  ensign  there  was  not.  Cortes 
and  his  cavalry  led  the  column,  which  was  of  all  the  arms 
except  artillery ;  that  remained  with  De  Olid  to  take  care 
of  the  palace. 

And  never  was  precaution  more  timely ;  for  hardly  had 
the  gate  closed  upon  the  outgoers,  before  the  good  captain 
sent  his  garrison  to  the  walls,  once  more  menaced  by  the 
infidels. 

The  preparations  of  Escobar,  as  we  have  seen,  had  been 
under  lo's  view  ;  so  the  prince,  divining  the  object,  drew 
after  him  a  strong  support,  and  hastened  to  keep  the  advan 
tage  of  the  stairways.  On  one  of  the  eastern  terraces  he  met 
the  'tzin  ascending.  There  was  hurried  salutation  between 
them. 

"  Look  you  for  Hualpa  1 "  asked  Io',  observing  the  'tzin 
search  the  company  inquiringly. 

"  Yes.     He  should  be  here." 

The  boy's  face  and  voice  fell. 

"  I  would  he  were,  good  'tzin.  He  left  me  on  the  azoteas. 
With  the  look  of  one  who  had  devoted  himself,  he  embraced 
me.  His  last  words  were, '  Tell  the  'tzin  I  have  gone  to  make 
for  him  a  way  into  the  palace.'  "  And  thereupon  Io'  told  the 
story  through,  simply  and  sorrowfully ;  at  the  end  the 
listener  kissed  him,  and  said,  — 

"  I  will  find  the  way  he  made  for  me." 

There  was  a  silence,  very  brief,  however,  for  a  burst  of 


504  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

yells  from  below  warned  them  of  the  fight  begun.  Then  the 
tzin,  recalled  to  himself,  gave  orders. 

"  Care  of  the  gods  is  mine  now.  Leave  me  these  friends, 
and  go,  and  with  the  people  at  command,  bring  stones 
and  timbers,  all  you  find,  and  heap  them  ready  for  use  on 
the  terraces  at  the  head  of  each  stairway.  Go  quickly,  so 
may  you  earn  the  double  blessing  of  HuitziF  and  Tezca' ! " 

In  a  little  time  the  'tzin  stood  upon  the  last  step  of  the 
lowest  stairway  ;  nor  did  he  lift  hand  until  Escobar,  half 
spent  with  exertion,  confronted  him  shield  to  shield.  The 
result  has  been  told. 

And  then  were  shown  the  qualities  which,  as  a  fighting 
man,  raised  the  'tzin  above  rivalry  amongst  his  people.  The 
axe  in  his  hand  was  but  another  form  of  the  maquahuitl  ; 
and  that  his  shield  was  of  the  Christian  style  mattered 
not,  —  he  was  its  perfect  master.  With  a  joyous  cry,  he 
rushed  upon  the  arms  outstretched  to  save  the  fallen  captain  ; 
played  his  shield  like  a  shifting  mirror ;  rose  and  fell  the 
axe,  now  in  feint,  now  in  foil,  but  always  in  circles  swifter 
than  eye  could  follow ;  striking  a  victim  but  once,  he  amazed 
and  dazzled  the  Spaniards,  as  in  the  Moorish  wars  El  Zagel, 
the  Moor,  amazed  and  dazzled  their  fathers.  Nor  did  he 
want  support.  His  followers,  inspired  by  his  example,  strug 
gled  to  keep  pace  with  him.  On  the  flanks  poured  the  masses 
of  his  countrymen,  in  blind  fury,  content  if,  with  their  naked 
hands,  they  could  clutch  the  weapons  that  slew  them.  Such 
valor  was  not  to  be  resisted  by  the  lessening  band  of 
Christians,  who  yielded,  at  first  inch  by  inch,  then  step  by 
step  ;  at  length,  in  disorder,  almost  in  rout,  they  were  driven 
from  the  sacred  enclosure. 

The  victory  was  decided ;  the  temple  was  safe,  and  the 
insult  punished  !  The  air  shook  with  the  deep  music  of  the 
drum ;  in  the  streets  the  companies  yelled  as  if  drunk ;  the 
temple  was  beautiful  with  waving  sashes  and  tossing  shields 


THE  WAY  THROUGH  THE  WALL.        505 

and  banners ;  and  on  the  azoteas  of  the  great  pile,  in  pres 
ence  of  the  people,  the  priests  appeared  and  danced  their 
dance  of  triumph,  —  a  horrible  saturnalia.  The  fight  had 
been  a  trial  of  power  between  the  gods  Christian  and  Aztec, 
and  lo,  HuitziT  was  master  ! 

The  'tzin  felt  the  sweetness  of  the  victory,  and  his  breast 
filled  with  heroic  impulses.  Standing  in  the  gate  of  the 
coatapantli,  he  saw  the  breach  Hualpa  had  made  in  the  wall 
enclosing  the  palace,  noticed  that  the  ascent  to  the  base  of 
the  gorge  was  easy,  and  the  gorge  itself  now  wide  enough 
to  admit  of  the  passage  of  several  men  side  by  side.  The 
temptation  was  strong,  the  possibilities  alluring,  and  he  fixed 
his  purpose. 

"It  is  the  way  he  made  for  me,  and  I  will  tread  it.  Help 
me,  0  God  of  my  fathers  !  " 

So  he  resolved,  so  he  prayed. 

And  forthwith  messengers  ran  to  the  chiefs  on  the  four 
sides  of  the  palace  with  orders  for  them  to  pass  the  wall. 
From  the  dead  Spaniards  the  armor  was  stript,  and  arms 
taken ;  and  the  robbers,  fourteen  caciques,  men  notable  for 
skill  and  courage,  stood  up  under  cuirass,  and  helm  or 
morion,  and  with  pike  and  battle-axe  of  Christian  manufac 
ture,  covered,  nevertheless,  with  pagan  trappings. 

Still  standing  in  the  gateway,  the  'tzin  saw  the  companies 
in  the  street  begin  the  assault.  Swelled  their  war-cries  as 
never  before,  for  the  inspiration  of  the  victory  was  upon 
them  also  ;  rattled  the  tambours,  brayed  the  conchs,  danced 
the  priests,  and  from  the  temple  and  housetops  poured  the 
missiles  in  a  darkening  cloud.  Within  his  view  a  hundred 
ladders  were  planted,  and  crowded  with  eager  climbers.  At 
the  gorge  of  the  breach  men  struggled  with  each  other  to 
make  the  passage  first.  He  called  a  messenger  :  — 

"  Take  this  ring  to  the  prince  lo',"  he  said.  "  Tell  him 
the  house  of  the  gods  is  once  more  in  his  care."  Then  to 
22 


506  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


his  chosen  caciques  he  turned,  saying,  —  "  Follow  me,   0 
countrymen  ! " 

With  that,  he  walked  swiftly  to  the  breach ;  calm,  col 
lected,  watchful,  silent,  he  Avalked.  His  companions  shouted 
his  war-cry.  From  mouth  to  mouth  it  passed,  thrilling  and 
inspiring,  — 

1     "  Up,  up,  Tlateloco  !     Up,  up,  over  the  wall !     The  'tzin 
is  with  us  !  " 

Meantime  the  beseiged  were  not  idle ;  over  the  crest  of 
the  parapet  the  Tlascalans  fought  successfully ;  through  the 
ports  and  embrasures  the  Christians  kept  up  their  fire  of  guns 
great  and  small.  Nevertheless,  to  the  breach  the  'tzin  Avent 
without  stopping. 

"  Clear  the  way  !  "  he  cried. 

The  guns  within  made  answer;  a  shower  of  blood 
drenched  him  from  head  to  foot.  Except  of  the  dead,  the 
way  was  clear  !  A  rush  through  the  slippery  gorge,  —  a 
shout,  —  and  he  was  inside  the  enclosure,  backed  by  his 
caciques.  And  as  he  went  in,  Cortes  passed  out,  marching 
to  storm  the  temple. 

No  doubt  or  hesitation  on  the  'tzin's  part  now ;  no  look 
ing  about,  uncertain  what  to  do,  while  bowmen  and  gunners 
made  a  mark  of  him.  He  spoke  to  his  supporters,  and  with 
them  faced  to  the  right,  and  cleared  the  banquette  of  Tlas 
calans.  Over  the  wall,  thus  cleared,  and  through  the  breach 
leaped  his  people  ;  and  as  they  came,  the  iron  shields  covered 
them,  and  they  multiplied  rapidly. 

About  eight  hundred  Spaniards,  chiefly  Narvaez'  men,  de 
fended  the  palace.  They  fought,  but  not  with  the  spirit  of 
the  veterans,  and  were  pushed  slowly  backward.  As  they 
retired,  wider  grew  the  space  of  undefended  wall ;  like  waves 
over  a  ship's  side,  in  poured  the  companies ;  the  Aztecs 
fell  by  scores,  yet  they  increased  by  hundreds. 

Again  the  sick  and  wounded  staggered  from  their  quarters ; 


THE  WAY  THROUGH  THE  WALL.        507 

again  De  Olid  brought  his  reserves  into  action ;  again  the 
volleys  shook  the  palace,  and  wrapped  it  in  curtains  of 
smoke,  whiter  and  softer  than  bridal  veils  :  still  the  infidels 
continued  to  master  the  walls  and  the  space  within.  By 
and  by  the  gates  fell  into  their  hands ;  and  then,  indeed,  all 
seemed  lost  to  the  Christians. 

The  stout  heart  of  the  good  Captain  Christobal  was  well 
tempered  for  the  trial.  To  the  windows  and  lesser  entrances 
of  the  buildings  he  sent  guards,  stationing  them  inside  ;  then, 
in  front  of  the  four  great  doors,  he  drew  his  men  back,  and 
fought  on,  so  that  the  palace  was  literally  girt  with  a  belt 
of  battle. 

An  hour  like  that  I  write  of  seems  a  long  time  to  a  com 
batant  ;  on  this  occasion,  however,  one  there  was,  not  a 
combatant,  to  whom,  possibly,  the  time  seemed  much  longer. 
In  his  darkened  chamber  sat  the  king,  neither  speaking  nor 
spoken  to,  though  surrounded  by  his  court.  He  must  have 
heard  the  cries  of  his  people ;  knowing  them  so  near,  in 
fancy,  at  least,  he  must  have  seen  their  heroism  and  slaugh 
ter.  Had  he  no  thought  in  sympathy  with  them1?  no 
prayer  for  their  success  ?  no  hope  for  himself  even  1  Who 
may  answer  1  —  so  many  there  are  dead  in  the  midst  of  life. 

At  length  the  'tzin  became  weary  of  the  mode  of  attack, 
which,  after  all,  was  but  a  series  of  hand-to-hand  combats 
along  lengthened  lines,  that  might  last  till  night,  or,  indeed, 
as  long  as  there  were  men  to  fill  the  places  of  the  fallen. 
To  the  companies  crowding  the  conquered  space  before  the 
eastern  front  of  the  palace,  he  passed  an  order :  a  simul 
taneous  forward  movement  from  the  rear  took  place ;  the 
intervals  between  the  ranks  were  closed  up ;  a  moment  of 
fusion,  —  a  pressure ;  then  a  welding  together  of  the  whole 
mass  followed.  After  that  words  may  not  convey  the  scene. 
The  unfortunates  who  happened  to  be  engaged  were  first 
pushed,  then  driven,  and  finally  shot  forward,  like  dead 


508  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

weights.  Useless  all  skill,  useless  strength  ;  the  opposite 
lines  met ;  blood  flew  as  from  a  hundred  fountains  ;  men, 
impaled  on  opposing  weapons,  died,  nailed  together  face  to 
face.  As  the  only  chance  for  life,  very  many  fell  down,  and 
were  smothered. 

The  defenders  broke  in  an  instant.  Back,  back  they 
went,  —  back  to  the  guns,  which,  for  a  time,  served  a? 
breakwaters  to  the  wave ;  then  past  the  guns,  almost  to 
the  wall,  forced  there  by  the  awful  impetus  of  the  rush. 

The  truly  great  leaders  of  men  are  those  who,  invoking 
storms,  stand  out  and  brave  them  when  they  come.  Such 
was  Guatamozin.  The  surge  I  have  so  faintly  described 
caught  him  foremost  in  the  fighting  line  of  his  people,  and 
flung  him  upon  his  antagonists.  With  his  shield  he  brokft 
the  force  of  the  collision ;  the  cuirass  saved  him  from  their 
points ;  close  wedged  amongst  them,  they  could  not  strike 
him.  Tossed  like  so  much  drift,  backward  they  went, 
forward  he.  Numbers  of  them  fell  and  disappeared.  When, 
at  last,  the  impetus  of  the  movement  was  nigh  spent,  he 
found  himself  close  by  the  principal  door  of  the  palace. 
But  one  man  stood  before  him,  —  a  warrior  with  maquahuitl 
lifted  to  strike.  The  'tzin  raised  his  shield,  and  caught  the 
blow ;  then,  upon  his  knee,  he  looked  up,  and  saw  the 
face,  and  heard  the  exulting  yell,  of  —  IztliT,  the  Tezcucan  ! 
Whirled  the  weapon  again.  The  noble  Aztec  summoned 
all  his  spirit ;  death  glared  upon  him  through  the  burning 
eyes  of  his  hated  rival ;  up,  clear  to  vision,  rose  all  dearest 
things,  —  gods,  country,  glory,  love.  Suddenly  the  raised  arm 
fell  j  down  dropped  the  maquahuitl ;  and  upon  the  shield 
down  dropped  IztliT  himself,  carrying  the  'tzin  with  him. 

The  Tezcucan  seemed  dead. 

A  friendly  hand  helped  the  'tzin  to  his  feet.  He  was  con 
scious,  as  he  arose,  of  a  strange  calm  in  the  air  ;  the  clamor 
and  furious  stir  of  the  combat  were  dying  away ;  he  stood 


THE  WAY  THROUGH  THE  WALL.    •    509 

in  the  midst  of  enemies,  but  they  were  still,  and  did  not  even 
look  at  him.  A  shield  not  his  own  covered  his  breast ;  he 
turned,  and  lo  !  the  face  of  Hualpa  ! 

"  Whence  came  you  1 "  asked  the  'tzin. 

"  From  the  palace." 

"  Thanks  —  " 

"  Not  now,  not  now,"  said  Hualpa,  in  a  low  voice.  "  The 
gods  who  permitted  me  to  save  you,  O  'tzin,  have  not  been 
able  to  save  themselves.  Look  !  to  the  temple  !  " 

His  eyes  followed  Hualpa's  directing  finger,  and  the  same 
astonishment  that  held  his  enemies  motionless  around  him, 
the  same  horror  that,  in  the  full  tide  of  successful  battle, 
had  so  instantly  stayed  his  countrymen,  seized  hint  also. 
He  stood  transfixed,  —  a  man  turned  to  stone  ! 

The  towers  of  the  temple  were  in  flames ;  and,  yet  more 
awful,  the  image  of  Huitzil,'  rolled  to  the  verge  of  the 
azoteas,  was  tottering  to  its  fall !  A  thousand  hands  were 
held  up  instinctively,  —  a  groan,  —  a  long  cry,  —  and  down 
the  stairway  and  terraces,  grinding  and  crashing,  thundered 
the  idol.  Tezca'  followed  after,  and  the  sacrificial  stone ; 
then  the  religion  of  the  Aztecs  was  ended  forever. 

As  if  to  assure  the  great  fact,  when  next  the  spectators 
raised  their  eyes  to  the  azoteas,  lo  !  Olmedo  and  his  crucifix  ! 
The  faithful  servant  of  Christ  had  performed  his  mission ; 
he  had  burst  the  last  gate,  and  gained  the  last  mountain  in 
the  way ;  and  now,  with  bared  head,  and  face  radiant  with 
sublime  emotion,  he  raised  the  symbol  of  salvation  high 
up  in  view  of  all  the  tribes,  and,  in  the  name  of  his  Master, 
and  for  his  Master's  Church,  forever,  by  that  simple  ceremony, 
took  possession  of  the  Xew  World. 

And  marvellous  to  relate  further,  the  tribes,  awed  if  not 
conquered,  bowed  their  heads  in  peace.  Even  the  com 
panies  in  the  palace-yard  marched  out  over  their  dead,  and 
gave  up  the  victory  so  nearly  won.  Guatamozin  and  Hualpa 


510  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


followed  them,  but  with  their  faces  to  the  foe.  Needless 
the  defiance  :  as  they  went,  not  a  word  was  spoken,  not  a 
hand  lifted.  For  the  time,  all  was  peace. 


CHAPTER  XL 

BATTLE    IN    THE    AIR. 

AS  Cortes,  at  the  head  of  his  column,  drew  near  the  gate 
of  the  coatapantli,  he  saw  the  inclosure  and  the  ter 
races  on  that  side  of  the  temple  occupied  by  warriors,  and 
the  edge  of  the  azoteas  above  lined  with  pabas,  chanting  in 
dismal  harmony  with  the  deep  music  of  the  great  drum. 
Ensigns  and  symbols  of  unknown  meaning,  and  rich  regalia 
pranked  the  dull  gray  faces  of  the  pile  with  holiday  splen 
dors.  Little  note,  however,  gave  he  to  the  beautiful  effect. 

"  God  helping  us,"  he  said  to  his  cavaliers,  —  and  with  such 
gravity  that  they  knew  him  unusually  impressed  with  the 
task  before  them,  —  "  God  helping  us,  gentlemen,  we  will  do 
a  deed  now  that  hath  no  likeness  in  the  wars  of  men.  Com 
mend  we  ourselves  each,  and  all  who  follow  us,  to  the  holy 
Christ,  who  cometh  yonder  on  the  staff  of  Father  Olmedo." 

So  saying,  he  reversed  his  sword,  and  carried  the  crossed 
handle  softly  and  reverently  to  the  bars  of  his  helmet,  and 
all  who  heard  him  did  likewise. 

In  front  of  the  gate,  under  a  shower  of  arrows,  he  stopped 
to  adjust  the  armlets  of  his  shield,  for  his  hand  was  yet  sore  ; 
then,  settling  in  his  saddle  again,  he  spurred  his  horse 
through  the  entrance  into  the  enclosure. 

Eight  into  the  mass  waiting  to  receive  him  lie  broke, 
and  whom  his  sword  left  untouched  the  trained  steed  bore 
down.  After  him  charged  the  choicest  spirits  of  the  con- 


BATTLE   IN  THE  AIR.  511 

quest,  animated  with  generous  rivalry  and  the  sublime  idea 
that  this  time  the  fight  was  for  God  and  His  Church.  And 
so,  with  every  thrust  of  sword  and  every  plunge  of  horse, 
out  rang  their  cries. 

"  On,  on,  for  love  of  Christ !  Death  to  the  infidels  !  Down 
with  the  false  gods  !  " 

On  the  side  of  the  infidels  there  was  no  yielding,  for  the 
ground  was  holy  ground  to  them.  When  their  frail  weapons 
were  broken,  they  flung  themselves  empty-handed  upon  the 
nearest  rider,  or  under  the  horses,  and,  dying  even,  tried  to 
hold  fast  locked  the  hoofs  that  beat  them  to  death.  In  their 
aid,  the  pavement  became  heaped  with  bodies,  and  so  slippery 
with  blood  that  a  number  of  the  horses  fell  down  ;  and,  in 
such  cases,  if  the  rescue  came  not  quickly  they  and  their 
riders  were  lost.  Indeed,  so  much  did  this  peril  increase 
that  Cortes,  when  his  footmen  were  fairly  in  the  yard,  dis 
mounted  the  horsemen  the  better  to  wage  the  fight. 

At  length  resistance  ceased  :  the  inclosure  was  won.  The 
marble  floor  bore  awful  evidences  of  the  prowess  of  one  party 
and  the  desperation  of  the  other. 

The  Christians  took  up  their  wounded,  and  carried  them 
tenderly  to  the  shade,  for  the  sun  blazed  down  from  the 
cloudless  sky. 

Around  Cortes  gathered  the  captains,  resting  themselves. 

"  The  Tlascalans  must  hold  the  yard,"  lie  said,  well  pleased, 
find  with  raised  visor.  "  That  charge  I  commit  to  thee, 
Lugo." 

Lugo  bared  his  face,  and  said,  sullenly,  — 

"  Thou  knowest,  Senor,  that  I  am  accustomed  to  obey  thee 
questionless  ;  but  this  liketh  me  not.  I  —  " 

"  By  the  love  of  Christ  —  " 

"  Even  so,  Senor,"  said  Lugo,  interrupting  him  in  turn. 
w  I  feel  bidden  by  love  of  Christ  to  go  up,  and  help  cast 
lown  the  accursed  idol.;." 


512  THE   FAIR  GOD. 

The  face  of  the  crafty  leader  changed  quickly. 

"  Ola,  father  !  "  he  said.  "  Here  is  one  malcontent,  be 
cause  I  would  have  him  stay  and  take  care  of  us  while  we 
climb  the  stairways.  What  say'st  thou  1 " 

Olmedo  answered  solemnly,  "  What  ye  have  in  mind 
now,  Senores,  —  the  disgrace  of  the  false  gods  who  abide 
in  this  temple  of  abominations,  • — -is  what  hath  led  us 
here.  And  now  that  the  end  is  at  hand,  the  least  cir 
cumstance  is  to  be  noted ;  for  the  wise  hear  God  as  often 
in  the  small  voice  as  in  the  thunder.  Doubt  not,  doubt 
not ;  the  prompting  of  the  good  captain  is  from  Him. 
Be  this  lower  duty  to  the  unassoilzied  Tlascalans :  go 
we  as  the  love  of  Christ  calleth.  Verily,  he  who  doeth  this 
work  well,  though  his  sins  be  many  as  the  sands  of  the  sea, 
yet  shall  he  become  as  purity  itself,  and  be  blessed  forever. 
Take  thy  measures  quickly,  Seiior,  and  let  us  be  gone." 

"  Amen,  amen  !  "  said  the  cavaliers  ;  and  Cortes,  crossing 
himself,  hastened  in  person  to  make  dispositions  for  the  fur 
ther  emprise. 

The  Tlascalans  he  set  to  hold  the  coatapantli  from  attack 
without.  To  the  arquebusiers  and  cross-bowmen  he  gave 
orders  to  cover  him  with  their  fire  while  he  climbed  the 
stairways  and  was  driving  the  enemy  around  the  ten-aces. 
When  the  azoteas  was  gained,  they  were  to  ascend,  and  take 
part  in  the  crowning  struggle  for  the  sanctuaries.  The  cav 
alry,  already  dismounted,  were  to  go  with  him  in  the  assault. 
To  the  latter,  upon  rejoining  them,  he  said,  — 

"  In  my  judgment,  gentlemen,  the  fighting  we  go  to  now  is 
of  the  kind  wherein  the  sword  is  better  than  axe  or  lance  ; 
therefore,  put  away  all  else." 

He  took  place  at  the  head,  with  Alvarado  and  Sandoval 
next  him  in  the  column. 

"  And  thou,  father  1 "  lie  asked. 

Olmedo  raised  his  crucifix,  and,  looking  up,  said,  — 


BATTLE  IN  THE  AIR.  513 

"  Hagase  tu  voluntad  en  la  tierra  asi  como  en  el  cielo."  ' 
Then  to  Cortes,  "  I  will  follow  these,  my  children." 

"  Forward,  then  !  Christ  with  us,  and  all  the  saints !  ' 
cried  Cortes.  "  Adelante  !  Christo  y  Santiago  !  " 

In  a  moment  they  were  swiftly  climbing  the  lower  stair 
way  of  the  temple. 

Meantime  Io',  from  the  azoteas,  kept  watch  on  the  combata 
below.  Two  figures  charmed  his  gaze,  —  that  of  Cortes  and 
that  of  the  'tzin,  —  both,  in  their  separate  ways,  moving  for 
ward  slowly  but  certainly.  Before  he  thought  of  descending, 
the  Christians  were  in  the  precinct  of  the  coatapantli,  and 
after  them  streamed  the  long  line  of  Tlascalans. 

As  we  have  seen,  the  prince  had  been  in  battles,  and  more 
than  once  felt  the  joyous  frenzy  nowhere  else  to  be  found  ; 
but  now  a  dread  fell  upon  him.  Did  Malinche's  dream  of 
conquest  reach  the  gods  1  Again  and  again  he  turned  to 
the  sanctuaries,  but  the  divine  wrath  came  not  forth,  —  only 
the  sonorous  throbs  of  the  drum.  Once  he  went  into 
the  presence  chamber,  which  was  full  of  kneeling  pabas. 
The  teotuctli  stood  before  the  altar  praying.  Io'  joined  in  the 
invocation ;  but  miracle  there  was  not,  neither  was  there 
help  ;  for  when  he  came  out,  all  the  yard  around  the  temple 
was  Malinche's. 

Then  Io'  comprehended  that  this  attack,  unlike  Escobar's, 
was  of  method  ;  for  the  ways  of  succor,  which  were  also  those 
of  retreat,  were  all  closed.  The  supreme  trial  had  come 
early  in  his  career.  His  spirit  arose  ;  he  saw  himself  the 
stay  of  the  religion  of  his  fathers ;  the  gods  leaned  upon 
him.  On  the  roof  and  terraces  were  some  two  thousand 
warriors,  the  fighting  children  of  the  valley  :  Tezcucans, 
with  countless  glorious  memories  to  sustain  their  native 
pride ;  Cholulans,  eager  to  avenge  the  sack  of  their  city  and 
the  massacre  of  their  countrymen ;  Aztecs,  full  of  the 

*  Thy  will  IN)  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven. 

22*  GO 


514  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


superiority  of  race,  and  the  inspiration  of  ages  of  empire. 
They  would  fight  to  the  last  man.  He  could  trust  them,  as  the 
'tzin  had  trusted  him.  The  struggle,  moreover,  besides  being 
of  special  interest  on  account  of  its  religious  character,  would 
be  in  mid-air,  with  the  strangers  and  all  the  tribes  and  com 
panies  as  witnesses.  So,  with  his  caciques,  he  went  down 
to  the  landing  at  the  top  of  the  lower  stairway. 

A  yell  saluted  Cortes  when,  at  the  head  of  the  cavaliers, 
he  appeared  on  the  steps,  and,  sword  in  hand  and  shield  over 
head,  commenced  the  perilous  ascent.  At  the  same  time 
javelins  and  spears  began  to  rain  upon  the  party  from  the 
first  terrace.  Up  they  hurried.  Half  the  height  was  gained 
and  not  a  man  hurt,  —  not  a  foot  delayed  !  Then,  slowly 
at  first,  but  with  longer  leaps  and  increasing  force,  a  block 
of  stone  was  started  down  the  stairs.  Fortunately,  the 
steps  were  broad,  having  been  built  for  the  accommodation  of 
processions.  Down  sped  a  warning  cry  ;  down  as  swiftly 
plunged  the  danger.  Olmedo  saw  three  figures  of  men  in 
iron  follow  it  headlong  to  the  bottom  ;  fast  they  fell,  but  not 
too  fast  for  his  words  of  absolution  ;  before  the  victims 
touched  the  pavement,  their  sins  were  forgiven,  and  their 
souls  at  rest  in  Paradise. 

The  stones  and  timbers  placed  on  the  landing  by  the  'tzin's 
order  were  now  laid  hold  of,  and  rolled  and  dragged  to  the 
steps  and  hurled  down.  Thus  ten  Christians  more  were 
slain.  Even  Cortes,  deeming  escape  impossible,  turned  his 
battle-cry  into  a  prayer,  and  not  in  vain  !  From  below,  the 
arquebusiers  and  cross-bowmen  suddenly  opened  fire,  which 
they  kept  so  close  that,  on  the  landing,  the  dead  and 
wounded  speedily  outnumbered  the  living. 

"  The  saints  are  with  us  !  Forward,  swords  of  the  Church ! " 
cried  Cortes. 

Before  the  infidels  recovered  from  their  panic,  he  passed 
the  last  step,  and  stood  upon  the  terrace.  And  there,  first 


BATTLE  IN   THE  AIR.  515 

iu  front  of  him,  first  to  meet  him,  was  Io',  whom  pride  and 
zeal  would  not  permit  to  retire. 

The  meeting  —  combat  it  can  hardly  be  called  —  was  very 
brief.  The  blades  of  lo's  maquahuitl  broke  at  the  first  blow. 
Cortes  replied  with  a  thrust  of  the  sword,  —  quick,  but  true, 
riving  both  the  shield  and  the  arm.  A  cacique  dragged 
the  hapless  boy  out  of  reach  of  the  second  thrust,  and  took 
his  place  before  the  conqueror. 

The  terraee  so  hardly  gained  was  smoothly  paved,  and  wide 
enough  for  ten  men  to  securely  walk  abreast ;  on  the  outer  side 
there  was  no  railing  or  guard  of  any  kind,  nothing  but  a 
descent  of  such  height  as  to  make  a  fall  certainly  fatal. 
Four  times  the  smooth,  foot-worn  pavement  extended  around 
the  temple,  broken  in  its  course  by  six  grand  stairways,  the 
last  of  which  landed  on  the  azoteas,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  street.  Such  was  the  highway 
of  the  gods,  up  which  the  adventurous  Christians  essayed  to 
march,  fighting. 

"  To  my  side,  Sandoval !  And  ye,  Alvarado,  Morla, 
Lugo,  Ordas,  Duero,  —  to  my  side  !  "  said  Cortes,  defending 
himself  the  while.  "  Make  with  me  a  line  of  shields  across 
the  way.  Let  me  hear  your  voices.  No  battle-cry  here  but 
Christ  and  St.  James !  When  ye  are  ready,  shout,  that  I 
may  hear  ye  !  " 

One  by  one  the  brave  gentlemen  took  their  places ;  then 
rose  the  cry,  "  Christo  y  Santiago  !  Christo  y  Santiago  !  " 

And  then  the  voice  of  Cortes,  — 

"  Forward,  my  friends  !  Push  the  dogs  !  No  quarter ! 
Christo  y  Santiago  !  " 

Behind  the  line  of  shields  moved  the  other  cavaliers, 
eager  to  help  when  help  should  be  needed. 

And  then  were  shown  the  excellences  of  the  sword  in  a 
master's  hand.  The  best  shields  of  the  infidels  could  not  bar 
its  point ;  it  overcame  resistance  so  quietly  that  men  fell, 


516  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


wounded,  or  slain  outright,  before  they  thought  themselves 
in  danger ;  it  won  the  terrace,  and  so  rapidly  that  the  Chris 
tians  were  themselves  astonished. 

"  Ola,  companeros ! "  said  Cortes,  who  in  the  fiercest 
melee  was  still  the  watchful  captain.  "  Ola!  Yonder  riseth 
the  second  stairway.  That  the  heathen  may  not  use  tho 
vantage  against  us,  keep  we  close  to  this  pack.  On  their 
heels  !  Closer !  " 

So  they  mounted  the  steps  of  the  second  stairway,  fight 
ing;  and  the  crowd  which  they  kept  between  them  and  the 
enemy  on  the  landing  was  a  better  cover  even  than  the  fire 
of  the  bowmen  and  arquebusiers.  And  so  the  terraces  were 
all  taken.  Of  the  eight  other  Christians  who  fell  under 
the  stones  and  logs  rolled  upon  them  from  the  heights 
above,  two  lived  long  enough  to  be  shrived  by  the  faithful 
Olmedo. 

The  azoteas  of  the  temple  has  been  already  described  as  a 
broad,  paved  area,  unobstructed  except  by  the  sacrificial 
stones  and  the  sanctuaries  of  Huitzil'  and  Tezca'.  A  more 
dreadful  place  for  battle  cannot  be  imagined.  The  coming 
and  going  of  worshippers,  singly  or  in  processions,  and  of 
barefooted  pabas,  to  whom  the  dizzy  height  was  all  the  world, 
had  worn  its  surface  smooth  as  furbished  iron.  If,  as  the 
combat  rolled  slowly  around  the  terraces,  rising  higher,  and 
nearer  the  chiefs  and  warriors  on  the  summit,  —  if,  in  faint- 
ness  of  heart  or  hope,  they  looked  for  a  Avay  of  escape,  the 
sky  and  the  remote  horizon  were  all  they  saw :  escape  was 
impossible. 

With  many  others  disabled  by  wounds,  To'  ascended  to 
the  azoteas  in  advance  of  the  fight ;  not  in  despair,  but  as 
the  faithful  might,  never  doubting  that,  when  the  human 
effort  failed,  Huitzil',  the  Omnipotent,  would  defend  himself. 
He  passed  through  the  ranks,  and  with  brave  words  encour 
aged  the  common  resolve  to  conquer  or  die.  Stopping  upon 


BATTLE  IN  THE  AIR.  517 

the  western  verge,  he  looked  down  upon  the  palace,  and  lo  ! 
there  was  a  rest  in  the  assault,  except  where  the  'tzin  fought, 
with  his  back  to  the  temple  ;  and  the  thousands  were  stand 
ing  still,  their  faces  upturned,  —  each  where  the  strange 
truce  found  him,  —  to  behold  the  hunted  gods  in  some 
majestic  form  at  last  assert  their  divinity.  So  lo'  knew,  by 
the  whisperings  of  his  own  faith. 

Again  he  turned  prayerfully  to  the  sanctuaries.  At  that 
instant  Cortes  mounted  the  last  step  of  the  last  stairway,  — 
after  him  the  line  of  shields,  and  all  the  cavaliers,  —  after 
them  again,  Olmedo  with  his  crucifix  !  Then  was  wrought 
an  effect,  simple  enough  of  itself,  but  so  timely  that  the 
good  man  —  forgetful  that  the  image  of  Christ  dead  on  the 
cross  is  nothing  without  the  story  of  his  perfect  love  and  sor 
rowful  death —  found  believers  when  lie  afterwards  proclaimed 
it  a  miracle.  He  held  the  sacred  effigy  up  to  be  seen  by  all 
the  infidels  ;  they  gazed  at  it  as  at  a  god  unfriendly  to  their 
gods,  and  waited  in  awe  for  the  "beginning  of  a  struggle  be 
tween  the  divine  rivals  ;  and  while  they  waited,  Cortes  and 
his  cavaliers  perfected  their  formation  upon  the  azoteas,  and 
the  bowmen  and  arquebusiers  began  to  climb  the  second 
stairway  of  the  ascent.  The  moment  of  advantage  was  lost 
to  the  Aztecs,  and  they  paid  the  penalty. 

lo'  waited  with  the  rest ;  from  crucifix  to  sanctuary,  and 
sanctuary  to  crucifix,  he  turned ;  yet  the  gods  nursed  their 
power.  At  last  he  awoke  ;  too  late !  there  was  no  escape. 
Help  of  man  was  not  possible,  and  the  gods  seemed  to  have 
abandoned  him. 

"  Tezcuco  !  Cholula  J  Tenochtitlan  !  Up,  up,  Tlateloco, 
up  !  " 

Over  the  azoteas  his  words  rang  piercing  clear,  and  through 
the  ranks  towards  the  Christians  he  rushed.  The  binding 
of  the  spell  was  broken.  Shook  the  banners,  pealed  war-cry, 
conch,  and  atabal,  —  and  the  battle  was  joined. 


618  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

"  Hold  fast  until  our  brethren  come  ;  then  shall  our  sworda 
drink  their  fill !  Christo  y  Santiago  !  " 

Never  was  the  voice  of  Cortes  more  confident. 

Need,  nevertheless,  had  the  cavaliers  for  all  their  strength 
and  skill,  even  the  nicest  cunning  of  fence  and  thrust. 
Every  joint  of  their  harness  was  searched  by  javelin  and 
spear,  and  the  clang  of  maquahuitls  against  the  faces  of  their 
shields  was  as  the  noise  of  a  thousand  armeros  at  work.  The 
line  swayed  and  bent  before  the  surge,  now  yielding,  now 
recovering,  at  times  ready  to  break,  and  then  —  death  awaited 
them  all  on  the  terraces  below.  For  life  they  plied  their 
swords,  —  no,  not  for  life  alone ;  behind  them  to  and  fro 
strode  Olmedo. 

"  Strike,  and  spare  not !  "  he  cried.  "  Lo,  the  gates  of  hell 
yonder,  but  they  shall  not  prevail.  Strike  for  Holy  Church, 
whose  swords  ye  are  !  For  Holy  Cross,  and  room  to  worship 
above  the  Baals  of  heathendom  !  For  glory  here,  and  eternal 
life  hereafter ! " 

So  he  cried  as  he  strode  ;  and  the  crucifix  on  his  lance 
and  the  saintly  words  on  his  lips  were  better  than  trumpets, 
better  than  a  hundred  Cids  in  reserve. 

The  great  drum,  which  had  been  for  a  while  silent,  at  this 
juncture  burst  out  again  ;  and  still  more  to  inflame  the  in 
fidels,  forth  from  the  sanctuaries  the  pabas  poured,  and  dis 
persed  themselves,  leaping,  dancing,  singing,  through  the 
ranks.  Doubtless  they  answered  the  Christian  priest, 
promise  for  promise,  and  with  even  greater  effect ;  the  calm 
and  self-possessed  among  their  people  became  zealots,  and 
tlie  zealots  became  frantic  madmen. 

At  last  the  bowmen  and  arquebusiers  appeared  upon  the 
scene.  When  Cortes  saw  them,  —  their  line  formed,  matches 
lighted,  bows  drawn,  —  he  drew  out  of  the  combat  to  give 
them  directions. 

"  Viva  companeros  !  "  he  said,  with  a  vivacity  peculiar  to 


BATTLE   IN   THE  AIR.  519 

himself,  "  I  bid  ye  welcome.  The  temple  and  its  keepers 
are  ours.  We  with  swords  will  now  go  forward.  Keep  ye 
the  stairway,  and  take  care  of  our  flanks.  Ply  your  bolts, 
—  ply  them  fast,  —  and  spare  not  a  cur  in  the  kennel !  " 

They  made  no  answer,  spake  not  a  word.  Stolidly,  grimly 
they  gazed  at  him  under  their  morions ;  they  knew  their 
duty,  and  he  knew  them.  Once  more  he  turned  to  the 
fight. 

"  To  the  sanctuaries  !  "  he  shouted,  to  the  cavaliers.  "  "We 
have  come  for  the  false  gods  :  let  us  at  them.  Charge, 
gentlemen,  Christ  with  us  !  Forward  all  !  " 

Back  came  their  response,  "  Forward  !  Christo  y  San 
tiago  !  " 

They  advanced  their  shields  suddenly  ;  the  play  of  theii 
swords  redoubled ;  the  weapons  in  front  of  them  splintered 
like  reeds  ;  war-cries  half  uttered  turned  to  screams  ;  under 
foot  blood  ran  like  water,  and  feathered  panoply  and 
fallen  men,  dying  and  dead,  blotted  out  the  pavement. 
Surprised,  bewildered,  baffled,  the  bravest  of  the  infidels 
perished ;  the  rest  gave  way  or  were  pushed  helplessly 
back  ;  and  the  dismay  thus  excited  rose  to  panic  when  the 
bowmen  and  arquebusiers  joined  in  the  combat.  A  horrible 
confusion  ensued.  Hundreds  threw  away  their  arms,  and 
ran  wildly  around  the  azoteas  ;  some  flung  themselves  from 
the  height ;  some  climbed  the  sanctuaries ;  some  took  to 
piteous  imploration  of  the  doomed  idols ;  others,  in  blind 
fury,  rushed  empty-handed  upon  the  dripping  swords. 

Steadily,  as  a  good  craft  divides  the  current  and  its  eddies, 
Cortes  made  way  to  the  sanctuaries,  impatient  to  possess  the 
idols,  that,  at  one  blow,  he  might  crush  the  faith  they  repre 
sented  ,  after  which  he  made  no  doubt  of  the  submission  of 
the  nations  in  arms.  A  rare  faculty  that  which,  in  the  heat 
of  battle,  can  weave  webs  of  policy,  and  in  the  mind's  eye 
trace  out  lines  of  wise  conduct. 


520  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


When,  at  last,  the  end  was  nigh,  such  of  the  pabas  as 
survived  withdrew  themselves  from  the  delirious  mob,  and 
assembled  around  the  sacrificial  stones.  Some  of  them  were 
wounded ;  on  many  the  black  gowns  hung  in  shreds ;  all 
of  them  had  one  purpose  more,  usually  the  last  to  linger 
in  an  enthusiast's  heart.  There,  where  they  had  witnessed 
so  many  sacrifices,  and,  in  eager  observance  of  auguries, 
overlooked  or  savagely  enjoyed  the  agony  of  the  victims, 
they  came  themselves  to  die,  —  there  the  sword  found  them ; 
and  from  their  brave,  patient  death  we  may  learn  that  Satan 
hath  had  his  martyrs  as  well  as  Christ. 

About  the  same  time  another  body  collected  in  the  space 
before  the  presence  chamber  of  Huitzil'.  They  were  the 
surviving  caciques,  with  Io'  in  their  midst.  Having  borne 
him  out  of  the  fray,  they  now  took  up  a  last  position  to  de 
fend  him  and  the  gods. 

Upon  them  also  the  battle  had  laid  a  heavy  hand  ;  most 
of  them  were  hurt  and  bleeding ;  of  their  beautiful  regalia 
only  fragments  remained  ;  some  were  without  arms  of  any 
kind,  some  bore  headless  javelins  or  spears ;  a  few  had 
maquahuitls.  Not  a  word  was  spoken  :  they,  too,  had  come 
to  die,  and  the  pride  of  their  race  forbade  repining. 

They  saw  the  last  of  the  pabas  fall ;  then  the  rapacious 
swords,  to  complete  the  work,  came  to  them.  In  the  front 
strode  Cortes.  His  armor  shone  brightly,  and  his  shield, 
though  spotted  with  blood,  was  as  a  mirror  from  which  the 
sun's  rays  shot,  like  darts,  into  the  eyes  of  the  infidels  at 
tracted  by  its  brightness. 

Suddenly,  three  warriors,  unarmed,  rushed  upon  him ;  his 
sword  passed  through  one  of  them ;  the  others  caught  him 
in  their  arms.  So  quick,  so  bold  and  desperate  was  the 
action  that,  before  he  could  resist  or  his  captains  help  him, 
he  was  lifted  from  his  feet  and  borne  away. 

"  Help,  gentlemen  !     Rescue  !  "  he  crie*d. 


BATTLE  IN  THE  AIR.  521 

Forward  sprang  Sandoval,  forward  Alvarado,  forward 
the  whole  line.  The  caciques  interposed  themselves.  Played 
the  swords  then  never  so  fast  and  deadly,  —  still  the  wall  of 
men  endured. 

Cortes  with  all  his  armor  was  a  cumbrous  burthen ;  yet 
the  warriors  bore  him  swiftly  toward  the  verge  of  the  azoteas. 
No  doubt  of  their  purpose  :  fair  and  stately  were  the  halls 
awaiting  them  in  the  Sun,  if  they  but  took  the  leap  with 
him !  He  struggled  for  life,  and  called  on  the  saints,  and 
vowed  vows ;  at  the  last  moment,  one  of  them  stumbled 
and  fell ;  thereupon  he  broke  away,  regained  his  feet,  and 
slew  them  both. 

In  the  door  of  the  sanctuary  of  Huitzil',  meantime,  Io' 
stood,  biding  the  sure  result  of  the  unequal  struggle.  Again 
and  again  he  had  striven  to  get  to  the  enemy ;  but  the  de 
voted  caciques  closed  their  circle  against  him  as  compactly 
as  against  them.  Nearer  shone  the  resistless  blades,  —  nearer 
the  inevitable  death.  The  rumble  and  roar  of  the  drum 
poured  from  the  chamber  in  mighty  throbs  ;  at  times  he 
caught  glimpses  of  the  azoteas  strewn  with  bloody  wreck ;  a 
sense  of  the  greatness  of  the  calamity  seized  him,  followed 
by  the  sullen  calm  which,  in  brave  men  dying,  is  more  an 
accusation  of  fate  than  courage,  resignation,  or  despair ;  up 
on  his  faculties  came  a  mist ;  he  shouted  the  old  war-cry  of 
the  'tzin,  and  scarcely  heard  himself ;  the  loves  and  hopes 
that  had  made  his  young  life  beautiful  seemed  to  rise  up  and 
fly  away,  not  in  the  air-line  of  birds,  but  with  the  slow, 
eccentric  flight  of  star-winged  butterflies  ;  then  the  light 
faded  and  the  sky  darkened ;  he  reeled  and  staggered,  but 
while  falling,  felt  himself  drawn  into  the  presence  chamber, 
and  looking  up  saw  the  face  of  the  teotuctli,  and  heard  the 
words,  "  I  loved  your  father,  and  he  loved  the  god,  who 
may  yet  save  us.  Come,  come  !  "  The  loving  hands  took 
off  his  warlike  trappings,  and  covering  him  with  the  frock 


522  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


of  a  paba  set  him  on  the  step  of  the  altar  at  the  feet  of 
the  god ;  then  the  darkness  became  perfect,  and  he  knew 
no  more. 

Directly  there  was  a  great  shout  within  the  chamber, 
blent  with  the  clang  of  armor  and  iron-shod  feet ;  the  tea- 
tucili  turned,,  and  confronted  Olmedo,  with  Cortes  and  the 
cavaliers. 

The  Christian  priest  dropped  his  lance  to  the  floor,  threw 
back  his  cowl,  raised  his  visor,  and  pointing  to  the  crucifix 
gazed  proudly  into  the  face  of  the  infidel  pontiff,  who  an 
swered  with  a  look  high  and  scornful,  as  became  the  first 
and  last  servant  of  a  god  so  lately  the  ruler  of  the  universe. 
And  while  they  faced  each  other,  the  beating  of  the  drum 
ceased,  and  the  clamor  stilled,  until  nothing  was  heard  but 
the  breathing  of  the  conquerors,  tired  with  slaughter. 

Then  Cortes  said,  — 

"  Glory  to  Christ,  whose  victory  this  is  !  Thou,  father,  art 
his  priest,  let  thy  will  be  done.  Speak  !  " 

Olmedo  turned  to  that  quarter  of  the  chamber  where,  by 
permission  of  Montezuma,  a  Christian  shrine  and  cross  had 
been  erected :  shrine  and  cross  were  gone !  Answered  he 
then,  — 

"  The  despoiler  hath  done  his  work.  Vengeance  is  mine, 
saith  the  Lord.  Take  this  man,"  pointing  to  the  teotuctli, 
"  and  bind  him,  and  lead  him  hence." 

Alvarado  stepped  forward,  and  took  off  the  massive  silver 
chain  which  he  habituaDy  wore  twice  encircling  his  neck, 
and  falling  down  low  over  his  breast-plate ;  with  it  he 
bound  the  wrists  of  the  prisoner,  who  once,  and  once  only, 
cast  an  appealing  glance  up  to  the  stony  face  of  the  idol. 
As  they  started  to  lead  him  off,  his  eyes  fell  upon  Io' ; 
by  a  sign  and  look  of  pity,  he  directed  their  attention 
to  the  boy. 

"  He  is  not  dead,"  said  Sandoval,  after  examination. 


BATTLE  IN  THE  AIR.  523 

"Take  him  hence,  also,"  Olmedo  ordered.  "At  leisure 
to-morrow  we  can  learn  what  importance  he  hath." 

Hardly  were  the  captives  out  when  the  chamber  be 
came  a  scene  of  wild  iconoclasm.  The  smoking  censers 
were  overthrown;  the  sculpturings  on  the  walls  were  de 
faced  ;  the  altar  was  rifled  of  the  rich  accumulation  of  gifts  ; 
fagots  snatched  from  the  undying  fires  in  front  of  the  sanc 
tuaries  were  applied  to  the  carved  and  gilded  wood- work  ; 
and  amid  the  smoke,  and  with  shouting  and  laughter  and 
the  noisy  abandon  of  school-boys  at  play,  the  zealots  de 
spoiled  the  gigantic  image  of  its  ornaments  and  treasure,  — 
of  the  bow  and  golden  arrows  in  its  hands  ;  the  feathers  of 
humming  birds  on  its  left  foot ;  the  necklace  of  gold  and 
silver  hearts  ;  the  serpent  enfolding  its  waist  in  coils  glisten 
ing  with  pearls  and  precious  stones.  A  hundred  hands  then 
pushed  the  monster  from  its  sitting-place,  and  rolled  it  out 
of  the  door,  and  finally  off  the  azoteas.  Tezca'  shared  the 
same  fate.  The  greedy  flames  mounted  to  the  towers,  and 
soon  not  a  trace  of  the  ages  of  horrible  worship  remained, 
except  the  smoking  walls  of  the  ruined  sanctuaries. 

Down  from  the  heights  marched  the  victors ;  into  the 
palace  they  marched ;  and  not  a  hand  was  raised  against 
them  on  the  way  ;  the  streets  were  almost  deserted. 

"  Bien !  "  said  Cortes,  as  he  dismounted  once  more  in 
front  of  his  quarters.  "  Muy  bien  !  We  have  their  king 
and  chief-priests  ;  we  have  burned  their  churches,  disgraced 
their  gods,  and  slain  their  nobles  by  the  thousand.  The  war 
is  over,  gentlemen ;  let  us  to  our  couches.  Welcome  rest ! 
welcome  peace  ! " 

And  the  weary  army,  accepting  his  words  as  verity,  went 
to  rest,  though  the  sun  flamed  in  the  brassy  sky ;  but  rest 
there  was  not ;  ere  dreams  could  follow  slumber,  the  trum 
pets  sounded,  and  the  battle  was  on  again,  fiercer  than  ever. 

The  sun  set,  and  the  night  came ;    then  the  companies 


524  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


thought  to  rest ;  but  Cortes,  made  tireless  by  rage,  went  out 
after  them,  and  burned  a  vast  district  of  houses. 

And  the  flames  so  filled  the  sky  with  brilliance  that  the 
sun  seemed  to  have  stood  still  just  below  the  horizon. 

During  the  lurid  twilight,  Olmedo  laid  away,  in  shallow 
graves  dug  for  them  in  the  palace-garden,  more  than  fifty 
Christians,  of  whom  six  and  forty  perished  on  the  temple 
and  its  terraces. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

IN   THE   INTERVAL   OF   THE   BATTLE  —  LOVE. 

r  I  ^HE'  chinampa,  at  its  anchorage,  swung  lightly,  like  an 
J-  Indian  cradle  pendulous  in  the  air.  Over  it  stooped  the 
night,  its  wings  of  darkness  brilliant  with  the  plumage  of 
stars.  The  fire  in  the  city  kindled  by  Cortes  still  fitfully 
reddened  the  horizon  in  that  direction,  —  a  direful  answer 
to  those  who,  remembering  the  sweetness  of  peace  in  the 
beautiful  valley,  prayed  for  its  return  with  the  morning. 

Yeteve,  in  the  hammock,  had  lulled  herself  into  the  sleep 
of  dreams ;  while,  in  the  canoe,  Hualpa  and  the  oarsmen 
slept  the  sleep  of  the  warrior  and  laborer,  —  the  sleep  too 
deep  for  dreams.  Only  Tula  and  the  'tzin  kept  vigils. 

Just  outside  the  canopy,  in  sight  of  the  meridian  stars, 
and  where  the  night  winds  came  sighing  through  the  thicket 
of  flowers,  a  petate  had  been  spread  for  them ;  and  now 
she  listened,  while  he,  lying  at  length,  his  head  in  her  lap, 
talked  of  the  sorrowful  time  that  had  befallen. 

He  told  her  of  the  manias,  and  their  destruction  ;  of  how 
Hualpa  had  made  way  to  the  presence  of  Nenetzin,  and 
how  she  had  saved  his  life ;  and  as  the  narrative  went  on, 
the  listener's  head  drooped  low  over  the  speaker's  face,  and 


IN   THE  INTERVAL  OF  THE  BATTLE — LOVE.         525 

there  were  sighs  and  tears  which  might  have  been  appor 
tioned  between  the  lost  sister  and  the  unhappy  lover ;  he  told 
of  the  attack  upon  the  palace,  and  of  the  fall  of  Iztlil',  and 
how,  when  the  victory  was  won,  Malinche  flung  the  gods 
from  the  temple,  and  so  terrified  the  companies  that  they 
fled. 

"  Then,  0  Tula,  my  hopes  fell  down.  A  people  without 
gods,  broken  in  spirit,  and  with  duty  divided  between  two 
kings,  are  but  grass  to  be  trodden.  And  Io,'  —  so  young, 
so  brave,  so  faithful  —  " 

He  paused,  and  there  was  a  long  silence,  devoted  to  the 
prince's  memory.  Then  he  resumed,  — 

"  In  looking  out  over  the  lake,  you  may  have  noticed  that 
the  city  has  been  girdled  with  men  in  canoes,  —  an  army, 
indeed,  unaffected  by  the  awful  spectacle  of  the  overthrow 
of  the  gods.  I  brought  them  up,  and  in  their  places  sent 
the  companies  that  had  failed  me.  So,  as,  the  sun  went 
down,  I  was  able  to  pour  fresh  thousands  upon  Malinche. 
How  I  rejoiced  to  see  them  pass  the  wall  with  Hualpa,  and 
grapple  with  the  strangers  !  All  my  hopes  came  back  again. 
That  the  enemy  fought  feebly  was  not  a  fancy.  Watching, 
wounds,  battle,  and  care  have  wrought  upon  them.  They 
are  wasting  away.  A  little  longer,  —  two  days,  —  a  day 
even,  —  patience,  sweetheart,  patience  !  " 

There  was  silence  again,  —  the  golden  silence  of  lovers, 
under  the  stars,  hand-in-hand,  dreaming. 

The  'tzin  brokstthe  spell  to  say,  in  lower  tones  and  with 
longer  intervals,  — 

"  Men  must  worship,  0  Tula,  and  there  can  be  no  worship 
without  faith.  So  I  had  next  to  renew  the  sacred  fire  and 
restore  the  gods.  The  first  was  easy  :  I  had  only  to  start  a 
flame  from  the  embers  of  the  sanctuaries ;  the  fire  that 
burned  them  was  borrowed  from  that  kept  immemorially  on 
the  old  altars.  The  next  duty  was  harder.  The  images 


526  THE   FAIR   GOD. 


were  not  of  themselves  more  estimable  than  other  stones ; 
neither  were  the  jewels  that  adorned  them  more  precious 
than  others  of  the  same  kind  :  their  sanctity  was  from  faith 
alone.  The  art  of  arts  is  to  evoke  the  faith  of  men  :  make 
me,  0  sweetheart,  make  me  master  of  that  art,  and,  as  the 
least  of  possibilities,  I  Avill  make  gods  of  things  least  godly. 
In  the  places  where  they  had  fallen,  at  the  foot  of  the 
temple,  I  set  the  images  up,  and  gave  each  an  altar,  with 
censers,  holy  fire,  and  all  the  furniture  of  worship.  By  and 
by,  they  shall  be  raised  again  to  the  azoteas  ;  and  when  we 
renew  the  empire,  we  will  build  for  them  sanctuaries  richer 
even  than  those  of  Cholula.  If  the  faith  of  our  people 
demand  more,  then  —  " 

He  hesitated. 

"  Then,  what  1 "  she  asked. 

He  shuddered,  and  said  lower  than  ever,  "  I  will  unseal 
the  caverns  of  Quetzal',  and,  —  more  I  cannot  answer  now." 

The  influence  of  Mualox  was  upon  him  yet. 

"  And  if  that  fail  1 "  she  persisted. 

Not  until  the  stars  at  the  time  overhead  had  passed  and 
been  succeeded  by  others  as  lustrous,  did  he  answer,  — 

"  And  if  that  fail  ]  Then  we  will  build  a  temple,  —  one 
without  images,  —  a  temple  to  the  One  Supreme  God.  So, 
0  Tula,  shall  the  prophecy  of  the  king,  your  father,  be  ful 
filled  in  our  day." 

And  with  that  up  sprang  a  breeze  of  summery  warmth, 
lingering  awhile  to  wanton  with  the  tresses  of  the  willow, 
and  swing  the  flowery  island  half  round  the  circle  of  its 
anchorage  ;  and  from  the  soothing  hand  on  his  forehead, 
or  the  reposeful  motion  of  the  chinampa,  the  languor  of 
sleep  stole  upon  his  senses ;  yet  recollection  of  the  battle 
and  its  cares  was  hard  to  be  put  away  :  — 

"  I  should  have  told  you,"  he  said,  in  a  vanishing  voice, 
"  that  when  the  companies  abandoned  us,  I  went  first  to  see 


THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  END.  527 

our  uncle,  the  lord  Cuitlahua.  The  guards  at  the  door  re 
fused  me  admittance ;  the  king  was  sick,  they  said." 

A  tremor  shook  the  hand  on  his  forehead,  and  larger  grew 
the  great  eyes  bending  over  him. 

"  Did  they  say  of  what  he  was  sick  1 "  she  asked. 

"  Of  the  plague." 

"  And  what  is  that  1" 

"  Death,"  he  answered,  and  next  moment  fell  asleep. 

Over  her  heart,  to  hush  the  loudness  of  its  beating,  she 
•Jasped  her  hands  ;  for  out  of  the  chamber  of  the  almost 
forgotten,  actual  as  in  life,  stalked  Mualox,  the  paba,  saying, 
as  once  on  the  temple  he  said,  "  You  shall  be  queen  in  your 
father's  palace."  She  saw  his  beard  of  fleecy  white,  and  his 
eyes  of  mystery,  and  asked  herself  again  and  again,  "  Was 
he  indeed  a  prophet  1 " 

And  the  loving  child  and  faithful  subject  strove  hard  to 
hide  from  the  alluring  promise,  for  in  its  way  she  descried 
two  living  kings,  her  father  and  her  uncle  ;  but  it  sought  her 
continually,  and  found  her,  and  at  last  held  her  as  a  dream 
holds  a  sleeper,  —  held  her  until  the  stars  heralded  the 
dawn,  and  the  'tzin  awoke  to  go  back  to  the  city,  back  to 
*.he  battle,  —  from  love  to  battle. 


CHAPTEE    XIII. 

THE   BEGINNING   OF   THE    END. 

"  T   EAVE  the  city,  now  so  nearly  won  !     Surely,  father, 

-LJ  surely  thou  dost  jest  with  me  !  " 

So  Cortes  said  as  he  sat  in  his  chamber,  resting  his  arm 
on  the  table,  the  while  Olmedo  poured  cold  water  on  his 

ounded  hand. 


528  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


The  father  answered  without  lifting  his  face,  — • 

"  Go,  I  say,  that  we  may  come  back  assured  of  holding 
what  we  have  won." 

"  Sayest  thou  so,  —  thou  !  By  my  conscience,  here  are 
honor,  glory,  empire !  Abandon  them,  and  the  treasure, 
a  part  of  which,  as  thou  knowest,  I  have  already  ac 
counted  to  his  Majesty  1  No,  no ;  not  yet,  father !  I 
cannot  —  though  thou  may'st  —  forget  what  Velasquez 
and  my  enemies,  the  velveted  minions  of  the  court,  would 
say." 

"  Then  it  is  as  I  feared,"  said  Olmedo,  suspending  his 
work,  and  tossing  his  hood  farther  back  on  his  shoulders. 
"  It  is  as  I  feared.  The  good  judgment  which  hath  led  us 
so  far  so  well,  and  given  riches  to  those  who  care  for  riches, 
and  planted  the  Cross  over  so  many  heathen  temples  is,  at 
last,  at  fault." 

The  father's  manner  was  solemn  and  reproachful.  Cortes 
turned  to  him  inquiringly. 

"  Senor,  thou  knowest  I  may  be  trusted.  Heed  me.  I 
speak  for  Christ's  sake,"  continued  Olmedo.  "  Leave  the 
city  we  must.  There  is  not  corn  for  two  days  more  ;  the 
army  is  worn  down  with  wounds  and  watching ;  scarcely 
canst  thou  thyself  hold  an  axe ;  the  men  of  Narvaez  are 
mutineers ;  the  garden  is  full  of  graves,  and  it  hath  been 
said  of  me  that,  for  want  of  time,  I  have  shorn  the  burial 
service  of  essential  Catholic  rites.  And  the  enemy,  Senor, 
the  legions  that  broke  through  the  wall  last  evening,  were 
new  tribes  for  the  first  time  in  battle.  Of  what  effect  on 
them  were  yesterday's  defeats  1  The  gods  tumbled  from 
the  temple  have  their  altars  and  worship  already.  Thou 
may'st  see  them  from  the  central  turret." 

The  good  man  was  interrupted.  Sandoval  appeared  at  the 
door. 

"  Come,"  said  Cortes,  impatiently. 


THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  END.  529 

The  captain  advanced  to  the  table,  and  saluting,  said,  in 
his  calm,  straightforward  way,  — 

"  The  store  for  the  horses  is  out ;  we  fed  them  to-night 
from  the  rations  of  the  men.  I  gave  Motilla  half  of  mine, 
and  yet  she  is  hungry." 

At  these  words,  the  hand  Olmedo  was  nursing  closed, 
despite  its  wound,  as  upon  a  sword-hilt,  vice-like,  and  up  the 
master  arose,  brow  and  cheek  gray  as  if  powdered  with  ashes, 
and  began  to  walk  the  floor  furiously ;  at  last  he  stopped 
abruptly  :  — 

"  Sandoval,  go  bid  the  captains  come.  I  would  have  their 
opinions  as  to  what  we  should  do.  Omit  none  of  them. 
Those  who  say  nothing  may  be  witnesses  hereafter." 

The  order  was  given  quietly,  with  a  smile  even.  A  moment 
the  captain  studied  his  leader's  face,  and  I  would  not  say 
he  did  not  understand  the  meaning  of  the  simple  words  ; 
for  of  him  Cortes  afterwards  said,  "  He  is  fit  to  command 
great  armies." 

Cortes  sat  down,  and  held  out  the  hand  for  Olmedo's  min 
istrations  ;  but  the  father  touched  him  caressingly,  and  said, 
when  Sandoval  was  gone,  — 

"  I  commend  thee,  son,  with  all  my  soul.  Men  are  never 
so  much  on  trial  as  when  they  stand  face  to  face  with  neces 
sity  ;  the  weak  fight  it,  and  fall ;  the  wise  accept  it  as  a 
servant.  So  do  thou  now." 

Cortes'  countenance  became  chill  and  sullen.  "  I  cannot 
see  the  necessity  —  " 

"  Good  !  "  exclaimed  Olmedo.  "  Whatsoever  thou  dost, 
hold  fast  to  that.  The  captains  will  tell  thee  otherwise, 
but  —  " 

"  What  1 "  asked  Cortes,  with  a  sneer.  "  The  treasure  is 
vast,  —  a  million  pesos  or  more.  Dost  thou  believe  they  will 
go  and  leave  it  ] " 

But  Olmedo  was  intent  upon  his  own  thought. 

23  HH 


530  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Mira  !  "  he  said.  "  If  the  captains  say  there  is  a  neces 
sity,  do  thou  put  in  thy  denial ;  stand  on  thy  opinion  boldly  ; 
and  when  thou  givest  up,  at  last,  yield  thee  to  that  other 
necessity,  the  demand  of  the  army.  And  so  — 

"  And  so,"  Cortes  said  with  a  smile,  which  was  also  a 
sneer^  "  and  so  thou  wouldst  make  a  servant  of  one  necces- 
sity  by  invoking  another." 

"  Yes  ;  another  which  may  be  admitted  without  danger  or 
dishonor.  Thou  hast  the  idea,  my  son." 

"  So  be  it,  so  be  it,  —  aguardamonos  !  " 

Thereupon  Cortes  retired  within  himself,  and  the  father 
began  again  to  nurse  the  wounded  hand. 

And  by  and  by  the  chamber  was  filled  with  captains,  sol 
diers,  arid  caciques,  whose  persons,  darkly  visible  in  the 
murky  light,  testified  to  the  severity  of  the  situation  :  rusted 
armor,  ragged  apparel,  faded  trappings,  bandaged  limbs, 
countenances  heavy  with  anxiety,  or  knit  hard  by  suffering, 

—  such  were  the  evidences. 
In  good  time  Cortes  arose. 

"  Ola,  my  friends,"  he  said,  bluntly.  "  I  have  heard  that 
there  are  among  ye  many  who  think  the  time  come  to  give 
the  city,  and  all  we  have  taken,  back  to  the  infidels.  I  have 
sent  for  ye  that  I  may  know  the  truth.  As  the  matter  con- 
cerneth  interests  of  our  royal  master  aside  from  his  dominion, 

—  property,  for  example,  —  the  Secretary  Duero  will  make 
note  of  all  that  passeth.     Let  him  come  forward  and  take 
place  here." 

The  secretary  seated  himself  by  the  table  with  manuscript 
and  pen. 

"  Now,  gentlemen,  begin." 

So  saying,  the  chief  dropped  back  into  his  seat,  and  held 
the  sore  hand  to  Olmedo  for  further  care,  —  never  speech 
more  bluff,  never  face  more  calm.  For  a  time,  nothing  was 
heard  but  the  silvery  tinkle  of  the  falling  water.  At  length 


THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  END.  531 

one  was  found  sturdy  enough  to  speak  ;  others  followed  him  ; 
and,  at  last,  when  the  opinion  was  taken,  not  a  voice  said 
stay  ;  on  the  contrary,  the  clamor  to  go  was,  by  some,  inde 
cently  loud. 

Cortes  then  stood  up. 

"  The  opinion  is  all  one  way.  Hast  thou  so  written, 
Senor  Duero  1 " 

The  secretary  bowed. 

«  "  Then  write  again,  —  write  that  I,  Hernan  Cortes,  to  this 
retreat  said,  No ;  write  that,  if  I  yield  my  judgment,  it  is 
not  to  any  necessity  of  which  we  have  heard  as  coming  from 
the  enemy,  but  to  the  demand  of  my  people.  Hast  thou  so 
written  1 " 

The  secretary  nodded. 

"  Write  again,  that  upon  this  demand  I  ordered  Alonzo 
Avila  and  Gonzalo  Mexia  to  take  account  of  all  the  treasure 
belonging  to  our  master,  the  most  Christian  king  ;  with  leave 
to  the  soldiers,  when  the  total  hath  been  perfected  and  the  re- 
tieat  made  ready,  to  help  themselves  from  the  balance,  as  each 
one  may  wish.  Those  gentlemen  will  see  that  their  task  be 
concluded  by  noon  to  morrow.  Hast  written,  Duero  ?  " 

"  Word  for  word,"  answered  the  secretary. 

"  Very  well.  And  now,"  —  Cortes  raised  his  head,  and 
spoke  loudly,  —  "  and  now,  rest  and  sleep  who  can.  This 
business  is  bad.  Get  ye  gone  !  " 

And  when  they  were  alone,  he  said  to  Olmedo,  — 

"  I  have  done  ill  —  " 

"Nay,"  said  the  father,  smiling,  "thou  hast  done  well." 

"  Bastante,  —  we  shall  see.  Never  had  knaves  such  need 
of  all  their  strength  as  when  this  retreat  is  begun  ;  yet  of 
what  account  will  they  be  when  loaded  down  with  the  gold 
they  cannot  consent  to  leave  behind  1 " 

"  Why  then  the  permission  ?  "  asked  the  father. 

Cortes  smiled  blandly,  — 


532  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  If  I  cannot  make  them  friends,  by  my  conscience !  I  can 
at  least  seal  their  mouths  in  the  day  of  my  calamity." 

Then  bowing  his  head,  he  added,  — 

"  Thy  benediction,  father." 

The  blessing  was  given. 

"  Amen  !  "  said  Cortes. 

And  the  priest  departed  ;  but  the  steps  of  the  iron-hearted 
soldier  were  heard  long  after,  —  not  quick  and  determined 
as  usual,  but  slow  and  measured,  and  with  many  and  lonj^ 
pauses  between.  So  ambition  walks  when  marshalling  its 
resources  ;  so  walks  a  heroic  soul  at  war  with  itself  and  for 
tune  !  He  flung  himself  upon  his  couch  at  last,  saying, — 

"  In  my  quiver  there  are  two  bolts  left.  The  saints  help 
me  !  I  will  speed  them  first." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE   KING   BEFORE   HIS   PEOPLE   AGAIN. 

UATAMOZIN'S  call  at  the  royal  palace  to  see  the  king, 
^  Cuitlahua,  had  not  been  without  result.  When  told  that 
the  monarch  was  too  sick  of  the  plague  to  be  seen,  he  called 
for  the  officer  who  had  charge  of  the  accounts  of  tribute  re 
ceived  for  the  royal  support. 

"  Show  me,"  said  the  'tzin,  "  how  much  corn  was  delivered 
to  Montezuma  for  Malinche." 

A  package  of  folded  aguave  leaves  was  brought  and  laid 
at  the  accountant's  feet.  In  a  moment  he  took  out  a  leaf 
well  covered  with  picture-writing,  and  gave  it  to  the  'tzin, 
who,  after  study,  said  to  a  cacique  in  waiting,  "  Bring  me 
one  of  the  couriers,"  and  to  another,  "  Bring  me  wherewith 
to  write." 


THE  KING  BEFORE  HIS  PEOPLE  AGAIN.  533 

When  the  latter  was  brought,  he  sat  down,  and  dipping 
a  brush  into  a  vessel  of  liquid  color,  drew  upon  a  clear, 
yellow-tinted  leaf  a  picture  of  a  mother  duck  leading  her 
brood  from  the  shore  into  the  water ;  by  way  of  signature, 
he  appended  in  one  corner  the  figure  of  an  owl  in  flight. 
On  five  other  sheets  he  repeated  the  writing ;  then  the  mis 
sives  were  given  each  to  a  separate  courier  with  verbal  direc 
tions  for  their  delivery. 

When  he  left  the  palace,  the  'tzin  laid  his  hand  upon 
Hualpa's  shoulder,  and  said,  joyfully,  — 

"  Better  than  I  thought,  0  comrade.  Malinche  has  corn 
for  one  day  only  !  " 

The  blood  quickened  in  Hualpa's  heart,  as  he  asked,  — 
"  Then  the  end  is  near  1 " 

"  To-morrow,  or  the  next  day,"  said  the  'tzin. 

"  But  Montezuma  is  generous,  —  " 

"  Can  he  give  what  he  has  not  ?  To-night  there  will  be 
delivered  for  his  use  and  that  of  his  household,  whom  I  have 
had  numbered  for  the  purpose,  provisions  for  one  day,  not 
more." 

"  Then  it  is  so  !  Praised  be  the  gods  !  and  you,  O  my 
master,  wiser  than  other  men  ! "  cried  Hualpa,  with  upraised 
face,  and  a  gladness  which  was  of  youth  again,  and  love  so 
blind  that  he  saw  Nenetzin,  • —  not  the  stars,  —  and  so  deaf 
that  he  heard  not  the  other  words  of  the  'tzin,  — 

"The  couriers  bear  my  orders  to  bring  up  all  the  armies. 
And  they  will  be  here  in  the  morning." 

****** 

In  the  depth  of  the  night,  while  Cortes  lay  restlessly 
dreaming,  his  sentinels  on  the  palace  were  attracted  by  music 
apparently  from  every  quarter  ;  at  first,  so  mellowed  by  dis 
tance  as  to  seem  like  the  night  singing  to  itself ;  afterwhile, 
swollen  into  the  familiar  dissonant  minstrelsy  of  conch  and 
atabal,  mixed  with  chanting  of  many  voices. 


534  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


"  0  ho  i  "  shouted  the  outliers  on  the  neighboring  houses, 
"  0  ho,  accursed  strangers !  Think  no  more  of  conquest, 
—  not  even  of  escape ;  think  only  of  death  by  sacrifice ! 
If  you  are  indeed  teules,  the  night,  though  deepened  by  the 
smoke  of  our  burning  houses,  cannot  hinder  you  from  seeing 
the  children  of  Anahuac  coming  in  answer  to  the  call  of 
HuitziF.  If  you  are  men,  open  wide  your  ears  that  you  may 
hear  their  paddles  on  the  lake  and  their  tramp  on  the  cause 
way.  0  victims  !  one  day  more,  then,  —  the  sacrifice  !  " 

Even  the  Christians,  leaning  on  their  lances,  and  listening, 
felt  the  heaviness  of  heart  which  is  all  of  fear  the  brave  can 
know,  and  crossed  themselves,  and  repeated  such  pater  nosters 
as  they  could  recollect. 

And  oo  it  was.  The  reserve  armies  which  had  been  re 
posing  in  the  vales  behind  Chapultepec  all  marched  to 
the  city  ;  and  the  noise  of  their  shouting,  drumming,  and. 
trumpeting,  when  they  arrived  and  began  to  occupy  its 
thoroughfares  and  strong  places,  was  like  the  roar  of  the  sea. 

To  the  garrison,  under  arms  meantime,  and  suffering  from 
the  influence  of  all  they  heard,  the  dawn  was  a  long  time 
coming ;  but  at  last  the  sun  came,  and  poured  its  full  light 
over  the  leaguered  palace  and  courtly  precincts. 

But  the  foemen  stood  idly  looking  at  each  other ;  for  in 
the  night,  Cortes,  on  his  side,  had  made  preparations  for  peace. 
Two  caciques  went  from  him  to  the  king  Cuitlahua,  propos 
ing  a  parley  ;  and  the  king  replied  that  he  would  come  in 
the  morning,  and  hear  what  he  had  to  say.  So  there  was 
truce  as  well  as  sunshine. 

"  Tell  me  truly,  Don  Pedro,  —  as  thou  art  a  gentleman, 
tell  me,  —  didst  thou  ever  see  a  sight  like  this  1 " 

"Whereupon,  Alvarado,  who,  with  others,  was  leaning 
against  the  parapet  which  formed  part  of  the  battlements  of 
the  eastern  gate  of  the  palace,  looked  again,  and  critically^ 
over  that  portion  of  the  square  visible  from  his  position,  and 


THE  KING  BEFORE  HIS  PEOPLE  AGAIN.  535 


replied,  —  "I  will  answer  truly  and  lovingly  as  if  thou 
wert  my  little  princess  yonder  in  the  patio.  Sight  like  this 
I  never  saw,  and "  —  he  added,  with  a  quizzical  smile  — 
"  never  care  to  see  again." 

Orteguilla  persisted,  — 

"  jSay,  didst  thou  ever  see  anything  that  surpassed  it  ?  " 

Once  more  Alvarado  surveyed  the  scene,  —  of  men  a 
myriad,  in  the  streets  rank  upon  rank ;  so  on  the  houses 
and  temple, —  everywhere  the  glinting  of  arms,  and  the  brown 
faces  of  warriors  glistening  above  their  glistening  shields ; 
everywhere  escaupiles  of  naming  red,  and  banners ;  every 
where  the  ineffable  beauty  and  splendor  of  royal  war.  The 
good  captain  withdrew  his  enamoured  gaze  slowly  :  — 

"  No,  never !  "  he  said. 

Even  he,  the  prince  of  gibes  and  strange  oaths,  forgot  his 
tricks  in  presence  of  the  pageant. 

"While  the  foemen  looked  at  each  other  so  idly,  up  the 
beautiful  street  came  heralds  announcing  Cuitlahua.  Soon 
his  palanquin,  attended  by  a  great  retinue  of  nobles,  was 
brought  and  set  down  in  front  of  the  eastern  gate  of  the 
palace.  Upon  its  appearance,  the  people  knelt,  and  touched 
the  ground  with  their  palms.  Then  there  was  a  blare  of 
Christian  trumpets,  and  Cortes,  with  Olmedo  and  Marina, 
came  upon  the  turret. 

The  heralds  waved  their  silver  wands  :  the  hush  became 
absolute ;  then  the  curtains  of  the  palanquin  were  rolled 
away,  and  the  king  turned  his  head  languidly,  and  looked  up 
to  Cortes,  who  raised  his  visor,  and  looked  down  on  him  ; 
and  in  the  style  of  a  conqueror  demanded  peace  and  quick 
return  to  obedience. 

"  If  thou  dost  not,"  he  said,  "  I  will  make  thy  city  a  ruin." 

The  Bhrill  voice  of  Marina,  interpreting,  flew  wide  over  the 
epace,  so  peopled,  yet  so  still ;  at  the  last  word,  there  was  a 
mighty  stir,  but  the  heralds  waved  their  wands,  and  the  hush 
came  back. 


536  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


On  Cuitlahua's  face  the  pallor  of  sickness  gave  place  to  a 
fiush  of  anger ;  he  sat  up,  and  signed  to  Guatamozin,  and 
upon  his  shoulder  laid  his  hand  trustingly,  saying,  — 

"  My  son,  lend  me  your  voice ;  answer." 

The  'tzin,  unmindful  that  the  breath  he  drew  upon  his 
cheek  was  the  breath  of  the  plague,  put  his  arm  around  the 
king,  and  said,  so  as  to  be  heard  to  the  temple's  top,  — 

"  The  king  Cuitlahua  answers  for  himself  and  his  people. 
Give  ear,  0  Malinche  !  You  have  desolated  our  temples, 
and  broken  the  images  of  our  gods ;  the  smoke  of  our  city 
offends  the  sky  ;  your  swords  are  terrible,  —  many  have  fallen 
before  them,  and  many  more  will  fall ;  yet  we  are  content  to 
exchange  in  death  a  thousand  of  ours  for  one  of  yours.  Be 
hold  how  many  of  us  are  left ;  then  count  your  losses,  and 
know  that  you  cannot  escape.  Two  suns  shall  not  pass, 
until,  amidst  our  plenty,  we  shall  laugh  to  see  you  sick  from 
hunger.  For  further  answer,  0  Malinche,  as  becomes  the 
king  of  his  people,  Cuitlahua  gives  you  the  war-cry  of  his 
fathers." 

The  'tzin  withdrew  his  arm,  and  snatching  the  green 
panache  from  the  palanquin,  whirled  it  overhead,  crying, 
"  Up,  up,  Tlateloco  !  Up,  Tlateloco  !  " 

At  sight  of  the  long  feathers  streaming  over  the  group, 
like  a  banner,  the  multitude  sprang  to  foot,  and  with  horrible 
clamor  and  a  tempest  of  missiles  drove  the  Christians  from 
the  turret. 

And  of  the  two  bolts  in  Cortes'  quiver,  such  was  the  speed 
ing  of  the  FIRST  ONE  ! 

***** 

An  hour  passed,  —  an  hour  of  battle  without  and  dispute 
within  the  palace. 

To  Cortes  in  his  chamber  then  came  Orteguilla,  reporting. 

"  I  gave  the  king  the  message,  Senor ;  and  he  bade  me 
tell  thee  thy  purpose  is  too  late.  He  will  not  come." 


THE  KING   BEFORE  HIS  PEOPLE  AGAIN.  537 

The  passion-vein  *  on  Cortes'  neck  and  forehead  rose,  and 
stood  out  like  a  purple  cord. 

"The  heathen  dog!"  he  cried.  "Will  not!  He  is  a 
slave,  and  shall  come.  By  the  holy  blood  of  Christ,  he  shall 
come,  or  die  ! " 

Then  Olmedo  spoke,  — 

"  If  thou  wilt  hear,  Senor,  Montezuma  affects  me  and  the 
good  Captain  Oli  tenderly ;  suffer  us  to  go  to  him,  and  see 
what  we  can  do." 

"  So  be  it,  so  be  it !  If  thou  canst  bring  him,  in  God's 
name,  go.  If  he  refuse,  then  —  I  have  sworn  !  Hearken  to 
the  hell's  roar  without  !  Let  me  have  report  quickly.  I  will 
wait  thee  here.  Begone  !  " 

Olmedo  started.  Cortes  caught  his  sleeve,  and  looked  at 
him  fixedly. 

"  Mir  a  !  "  he  said,  in  a  whisper.  "  As  thou  lovest  me  do 
this  work  well.  If  he  fail  —  if  he  fail  — 

"  Well  ]  "  said  Olmedo,  in  the  same  tone. 

"  Then  —  then  get  thee  to  prayers  !     Go." 

The  audience  chamber  whither  Oli  and  the  priest  betook 
themselves,  with  Orteguilla  to  interpret,  was  crowded  with 
courtiers,  who  made  way  for  them  to  the  dais  upon  which 
Montezuma  sat.  They  kissed  his  hand,  and  declining  the  in 
vitation  to  be  seated  began  their  mission. 

"  Good  king,"  said  the  father,  "  we  bring  thee  a  message 
from  Malinche  ;  and  as  its  object  is  to  stay  the  bloody  battle 
which  is  so  grievous  to  us  all,  and  the  slaughter  which  must 
otherwise  go  on,  we  pray  thy  pardon  if  we  make  haste  to 
speak." 

The  monarch's  face  chilled,  and  drawing  his  mantle  close 
he  said,  coldly,  — 

"  I  am  listening." 

Olmedo  proceeded,  — 

*  Bernal  Diaz,  Hist,  de  la  Conq. 
23* 


538  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  The  Senor  Hernan  commiserates  the  hard  lot  which 
compels  thee  to  listen  here  to  the  struggle  which  hath  lasted 
so  many  days,  and  always  with  the  same  result,  —  the  wast 
ing  of  thy  people.  The  contest  hath  become  a  rebellion 
against  thee  as  well  as  against  his  sovereign  and  thine. 
Finally  there  will  be  no  one  left  to  govern,  —  nothing,  in 
deed,  but  an  empty  valley  and  a  naked  lake.  In  pity  for 
the  multitude,  he  is  disposed  to  help  save  them  from  their 
false  leaders.  He  hath  sent  us,  therefore,  to  ask  thee  to  join 
him  in  one  more  effort  to  that  end." 

"  Said  he  how  I  could  help  him  1 "  asked  the  king. 

"  Come  and  speak  to  the  people,  and  disperse  them,  as 
once  before  thou  didst.  And  to  strengthen  thy  words,  and 
as  his  part  of  the  trial,  he  saith  thou  mayst  pledge  him  to  leave 
the  city  as  soon  as  the  way  is  open.  Only  let  there  be  no 
delay.  He  is  in  waiting  to  go  with  thee,  good  king." 

The  monarch  listened  intently. 

"  Too  late,  too  late  !  "  he  cried.  "  The  ears  of  my  people 
are  turned  from  me.  I  am  king  in  name  and  form  only  ; 
ihe  power  is  another's.  I  am  lost,  —  so  is  Malinche.  I  will 
not  go.  Tell  him  so." 

There  was  a  stir  in  the  chamber,  and  a  groan  from  the  by 
standers  ;  but  the  messengers  remained  looking  at  the  poor 
king,  as  at  one  who  had  rashly  taken  a  fatal  vow. 

"  Why  do  you  stay  1 "  he  continued,  with  a  glowing  face. 
"  "What  more  have  I  to  do  with  Malinche  1  See  the  state 
to  which  my  serving  him  has  already  reduced  me." 

"  Eemember  thy  people  !  "  said  Olmedo,  solemnly. 

Flashed  the  monarch's  eyes  as  he  answered,  — 

"  My  brave  people  !  I  hear  them  now.  They  are  in  arms 
to  save  themselves  ;  and  they  will  not  believe  me  or  the 
promises  of  Malinche.  I  have  spoken." 

Then  Oli  moved  a  step  toward  the  dais,  and  kissing  the 
royal  hand,  said,  with  suffused  eyes,  — 


THE  KING  BEFORE  HIS  PEOPLE  AGAIN.  539 

"  Thou  knowest  I  love  thee,  O  king  ;  and  I  say,  if  thou 
carest  for  thyself,  go." 

Something  there  was  in  the  words,  in  the  utterance,  prob 
ably,  that  drew  the  monarch's  attention  ;  leaning  forward,  he 
studied  the  cavalier  curiously ;  over  his  face  the  while  came 
the  look  of  a  man  suddenly  called  by  his  fate.  His  lips 
parted,  his  eyes  fixed ;  and  but  that  battle  has  voices  which 
only  the  dead  may  refuse  to  hear  his  spirit  would  have 
drifted  off  into  unseemly  reverie.  Eecalling  himself  with 
an  effort,  he  arose,  and  said,  half-smiling,  — 

"  A  man,  much  less  a  king,  is  unfit  to  live  when  his 
friends  think  to  move  him  from  his  resolve  by  appeals  to  his 
fears."  And  rising,  and  drawing  himself  to  his  full 
stature,  he  added,  so  as  to  be  heard  throughout  the  cham 
ber,  "  Very  soon,  if  not  now,  you  will  understand  me  when 
I  say  I  do  not  care  for  myself.  I  desire  to  die.  Go,  my 
friends,  and  tell  Malinche  that  I  will  do  as  he  asks,  and 
straightway." 

OH  and  Olmedo  kissed  his  hands,  and  withdrew  ;  where 
upon  he  calmly  gave  his  orders. 

Very  soon  the  'tzin,  who  was  directing  the  battle  from  a 
point  near  the  gate  of  the  coatapantli,  saw  a  warrior  appear 
on  the  turret  so  lately  occupied  by  Cortes,  and  wave  a  royal 
panache.  He  raised  his  shield  overhead  at  once,  and  held  it 
there  until  on  his  side  the  combat  ceased.  The  Christians, 
glad  of  a  breathing  spell,  quit  almost  as  soon.  All  eyes  then 
turned  to  the  turret ;  even  the  combatants  who  had  been 
fighting  hand  to  hand  across  the  crest  of  the  parapet,  ven 
tured  to  look  that  way,  when,  according  to  the  usage  of  the 
infidel  court,  the  heralds  came,  and  to  the  four  quarters  of 
the  earth  waved  their  silver  wands. 

Too  well  the  'tzin  divined  the  meaning  of  the  ceremony. 
"  Peace,"  he  seemed  to  hear,  and  then,  "  Lover  of  Anahuac, 
servant  of  the  gods,  —  choose  now  between  king  and  country. 


540  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


Now  or  never !  "  The  ecstasy  of  battle  fled  from  him  ;  his 
will  became  infirm  as  a  child's.  In  the  space  between  him  and 
the  turret  the  smoke  of  the  guns  curled  and  writhed  sensu 
ously,  each  moment  growing  fainter  and  weaker,  as  did  the 
great  purpose  to  which  he  thought  he  had  steeled  himself. 
When  he  brought  the  shield  down,  his  face  was  that  of  a  man 
whom  long  sickness  had  laid  close  to  the  gates  of  death. 
Then  came  the  image  of  Tula,  and  then  the  royal  permission 
to  do  what  the  gods  enjoined,  —  nay,  more  than  permission, 
a  charge  which  left  the  deed  to  his  hand,  that  there  might 
be  no  lingering  amongst  the  strangers.  "  O  sweetheart ! " 
he  said,  to  himself,  "  if  this  duty  leave  me  stainless,  whom 
may  I  thank  but  you  !  " 

Then  he  spoke  to  Hualpa,  though  with  a  choking  voice,  — 

"  The  king  is  coming.  I  must  go  and  meet  him.  Get  my 
bow,  and  stand  by  me  with  an  arrow  in  place  for  instant 
use." 

Hualpa  moved  away  slowly,  watching  the  'tzin  ;  then  he 
returned,  and  asked,  in  a  manner  as  full  of  meaning  as  the 
words  themselves,  — 

"  Is  there  not  great  need  that  the  arrow  should  be  very 
true  1 " 

The  master's  eyes  met  his  fs  he  answered,  "  Yes  ;  be 
careful." 

Yet  the  hunter  stayed. 

"  0  'tzin,"  he  said,  "  his  blood  is  not  in  my  veins.  He 
is  only  my  benefactor.  Your  days  are  not  numbered,  like 
mine,  and  as  yet  you  are  blameless ;  for  the  sake  of  the  peace 
that  makes  life  sweet,  I  pray  you  let  my  hand  do  this 
service." 

And  the  'tzin  took  his  hand,  and  replied,  fervently,  — 

"  There  is  nothing  so  precious  as  the  sight  that  is  quick  to 
see  the  sorrows  of  others,  unless  it  be  the  heart  that  hurries 
to  help  them.  After  this,  I  may  never  doubt  your  love; 


THE  KING  BEFORE  HIS  PEOPLE  AGAIN.  541 

but  the  duty  is  mine,  —  made  so  by  the  gods,  —  and  he  has 
asked  it  of  me.  Lo,  the  heralds  appear !  " 

"  He  has  asked  it  of  you  !  that  is  enough,"  and  Hualpa 
stayed  no  longer.  ' 

Upon  the  turret  the  carpet  was  spread  and  the  canopy 
set  up,  and  forth  came  a  throng  of  cavaliers  and  infidel 
lords,  the  latter  splendidly  bedight ;  then  appeared  Monte- 
zuma  and  Cortes. 

As  the  king  moved  forward  a  cry,  blent  of  all  feelings,  — • 
love,  fear,  admiration,  hate,  reverence,  —  burst  from  the 
great  audience ;  after  which  only  Guatamozin  and  Hualpa, 
in  front  of  the  gate,  were  left  standing. 

And  such  splendor  flashed  from  the  monarch's  person, 
from  his  sandals  of  gold,  tunic  of  feathers,  tilmatli  of  white, 
and  copilli  *  inestimably  jeweled ;  from  his  face  and  mien 
issued  such  majesty  that,  after  the  stormy  salutation,  the 
multitude  became  of  the  place  a  part,  motionless  as  the 
stones,  the  dead  not  more  silent. 

With  his  hands  crossed  upon  his  breast  he  stood  awhile, 
seeing  and  being  seen,  and  all  things  waited  for  him  to 
speak  ;  even  the  air  seemed  waiting,  it  was  so  very  hushed. 
He  looked  to  the  sky,  flecked  with  unhallowed  smoke  ;  to 
the  sun,  whose  heaven,  just  behind  the  curtain  of  brightness, 
was  nearer  to  him  than  ever  before  ;  to  the  temple,  place  of 
many  a  royal  ceremony,  his  own  coronation  the  grandest  of 
all ;  to  the  city,  beautiful  in  its  despoilment ;  to  the  people, 
for  whom,  though  they  knew  it  not,  he  had  come  to  die  ;  at 
last  his  gaze  settled  upon  Guatamozin,  and  as  their  eyes 
met,  he  smiled  ;  then  shaking  the  iilmatli  from  his  shoulder, 
he  raised  his  head,  and  said,  in  a  voice  from  which  all  weak 
ness  was  gone,  his  manner  never  so  kingly,  — 

"  I  know,  0  my  people,  that  you  took  up  arms  to  set  me 
free,  and  that  was  right ;  biit  how  often  since  then  have  I 

*  The  crown. 


542  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


told  you  that  I  am  not  a  prisoner ;  that  the  strangers  are  my 
guests ;  that  I  am  free  to  leave  them  when  I  please,  and  that 
I  live  with  them  because  I  love  them  1 " 

As  in  a  calm  a  wind  sometimes  blows -down,  and  breaks 
the  placid  surface  of  a  lake  into  countless  ripples,  driving 
them  hither  and  thither  in  sparkling  confusion,  these  words 
fell  upon  the  listening  mass  ;  a  yell  of  anger  rose,  and  from 
the  temple  descended  bitter  reproaches. 

Yet  the  'tzin  was  steady  ;  and  when  the  outcry  ended,  the 
king  went  on,  — 

"  I  am  told  your  excuse  now  is,  that  you  want  to  drive 
my  friends  from  the  city.  My  children,  here  stands  Ma- 
linclie  himself.  He  hears  me  say  for  him  that,  if  you  will 
open  the  way,  he  and  all  with  him  will  leave  of  their  own 
will." 

Again  the  people  broke  out  in  revilements,  but  the  mon 
arch  waved  his  hand  angrily,  and  said,  — 

"As  I  am  yet  your  king,  I  bid  you  lay  down  your 
arms  —  " 

Then  the  'tzin  took  the  ready  bow  from  Hualpa  ;  full  to 
the  ear  he  drew  the  arrow.  Steady  the  arm,  strong  the 
hand,  —  an  instant,  and  the  deed  was  done  !  In  the  purple 
shadow  of  the  canopy,  amidst  his  pomp  of  royalty,  Monte- 
zuma  fell  down,  covered,  when  too  late,  by  a  score  of 
Christian  shields.  Around  him  at  the  same  time  fell  a 
shower  of  stones  from  the  temple. 

Then,  with  a  shout  of  terror,  the  companies  arose  as  at  a 
word  and  fled,  and,  panic-blind,  tossed  the  'tzin  here  and 
there,  and  finally  left  him  alone  in  the  square  with  Hualpa. 

"  All  is  lost !  "  said  the  latter,  disconsolately. 

"  Lost ! "  said  the  'tzin.  "  On  the  temple  yonder  lies  Ma- 
linche's  last  hope.  No  need  now  to  assail  the  palace.  When 
the  king  comes  out,  hunger  will  go  in  and  fight  for  us." 

"  But  the  people,  —  where  are  they  1, " 


THE  KING  BEFORE  HIS  PEOPLE  AGAIN.  543 

The  'tzin  raised  his  hand  and  pointed  to  the  palace,  — 

"  So  the  strangers  have  asked.     See  !  " 

Hualpa  turned,  and  saw  the  gate  open  and  the  cavaliers 
begin  to  ride  forth. 

"  Go  they  this  way,.or  yon,"  continued  the  'tzin,  "  they 
will  find  the  same  answer.  Five  armies  hold  the  city ;  a 
sixth  keeps  the  lake." 

Down  the  beautiful  street  the  Christians  rode  unchal 
lenged  until  they  came  to  the  first  canal.  "While  restoring 
the  bridge  there,  they  heard  the  clamor  of  an  army,  and  lo ! 
out  of  the  gardens,  houses,  and  temples,  far  as  the  vision 
reached,  the  infidels  poured  and  blocked  the  way. 

Then  the  cavaliers  rode  back,  and  took  the  way  to  Tla- 
copan.  There,  too,  the  first  canal  was  bridgeless ;  and  as 
they  stood  looking  across  the  chasm,  they  heard  the  same 
clamor  and  beheld  the  same  martial  apparition. 

Once  more  they  rode,  this  time  up  the  street  toward  the 
northern  dike,  and  with  the  same  result. 

"  Ola,  father  ! "  said  Cortes,  returjfed  to  the  palace,  "  we 
may  not  stay  here  after  to-morrow." 

"  Amen  !  "  cried  Olmedo. 

"  Look  thou  to  the  sick  and  wounded  ;  such  as  can  march 
or  move,  get  them  ready." 

"  And  the  others  1 "  asked  the  good  man. 

"Do  for  them  what  thou  dost  for  the  dying.  Shrieve 
them  ! " 

So  saying,  the  Christian  leader  sank  on  his  seat,  and  gave 
himself  to  sombre  thought 

He  had  sped  his  second  and  —  LAST  BOLT  ! 

The  rest  of  the  day  was  spent  in  preparation  for  retreat. 


544  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


CHAPTEE    XV. 

THE   DEATH   OF    MONTEZUMA. 

AGAIN  Martin  Lopez  had  long  conference  with  Cortes  ; 
after  which,  with  his  assistant  carpenters,  he  went  to 
work,  and,  until  evening  time,  the  echoes  of  the  court-yard 
danced  to  the  sounds  of  saw  and  hammer. 

And  while  they  worked,  to  Cortes  came  Avila  and  Mexia. 

"What  thou  didst  intrust  to  us,  Senor,  we  have  done. 
Here  is  a  full  account  of  all  the  treasure,  our  royal  master's 
included." 

Cortes  read  the  statement,  then  called  his  chamberlain, 
Christobal  de  Guzman. 

"  Go  thou,  Don  Christobal,  and  bring  what  is  here  re 
ported  into  one  chamber,  where  it  may  be  seen  of  all.  And 
send  hither  the  royal  secretaries,  and  Pedro  Hernandez,  my 
own  clerk." 

The  secretaries  came. 

"  Now,  Senores  Avila  and  Mexia,  follow  my  chamberlain, 
and  in  his  presence  and  that  of  these  gentlemen,  take  from 
the  treasure  the  portion  belonging  to  his  Majesty,  the  em 
peror.  Of  our  wounded  horses,  then  choose  ye  eight,  and 
of  the  Tlascalans,  eighty,  and  load  them  with  the  royal  div 
idend,  and  what  more  they  can  carry  ;  and  have  them  always 
ready  to  go.  And  as  leaving  anything  of  value  where 
the  infidels  may  be  profited  is  sinful,  I  direct,  —  and  of  this 
let  all  bear  witness,  Hernandez  for  me,  and  the  secretaries  for 
his  Majesty,  —  I  direct,  I  say,  that  ye  set  the  remainder  apart 
accessible  to  the  soldiers,  with  leave  to  each  one  of  them  to 
take  therefrom  as  much  as  he  may  wish.  Make  note, 
further,  that  what  is  possible  to  save  all  this  treasure  hath 


THE   DEATH   OF   MONTEZUMA.  545 

been  clone.  Write  it,  good  gentlemen,  write  it ;  for  if  any 
one  thinketh  differently,  let  him  say  what  more  I  can  do.  I 
am  waiting  to  hear.  Speak  ! " 

No  one  spoke. 

And  while  the  division  of  the  large  plunder  went  on,  and 
afterwards  the  men  scrambled  for  the  remainder,  Montezuma 
was  dying. 

In  the  night  a  messenger  sought  Cortes. 

"  Seiior,"  he  said,  "  the  king  hath  something  to  ask  of 
you.  He  will  not  die  comforted  without  seeing  you." 

"  Die,  say'st  thou  ? "  and  Cortes  arose  hastily.  "  I  had 
word  that  his  hurts  were  not  deadly." 

"  If  he  die,  Senor,  it  will  be  by  his  own  hand.  The 
stones  wrought  him  but  bruises  ;  and  if  he  would  let  the 
bandages  alone  the  arrow-cut  would  shortly  stop  bleeding." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  Cortes.  "  Thou  wouldst  tell  me  that  this 
barbarian,  merely  from  being  long  a  king,  hath  a  spirit  of 
such  exceeding  fineness  that,  though  the  arrow  had  not  cut 
him  deeper  than  thy  dull  rowel  marketh  thy  horse's  flank,  yet 
would  he  die.  Where  is  he  now  1 " 

"  In  the  aiidience  chamber." 

"  Bastante  !  I  will  see  him.     Tell  him  so." 

Cortes  stood  fast,  thinking. 

"  This  man  hath  been  useful  to  me ;  may  not  some 
profit  be  eked  out  of  him  dead  ?  So  many  saw  him  get 
his  wounds,  and  so  many  will  see  him  die  of  them,  that  the 
manner  of  his  taking  off  may  not  be  denied.  What  if  I 
send  his  body  out  and  indict  his  murderers  1  If  I  could  take 
from  them  the  popular  faith  even,  then —  By  my  con 
science,  I  will  try  the  trick  !  " 

And  taking  his  sword  and  plumed  hat  and  tossing  a  cloak 
over  his  shoulder  he  sought  the  audience  chamber. 

There  was  no  guard  at  the  door.  The  little  bells,  as  he 
threw  aside  the  curtains,  greeted  him  accusingly.  Within, 


546  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


all  was  shadow,  except  where  a  flickering  lamplight  played 
over  and  around  the  dais  ;  nevertheless,  he  saw  the  floor 
covered  with  people,  some  prostrate,  others  on  their  knees  or 
crouching  face  down  ;  and  the  grim  speculator  thought,  as 
he  passed  slowly  on,  Verily,  this  king  must  also  have  been  a 
good  man  and  a  generous. 

,  The  couch  of  the  dying  monarch  was  on  the  dais  in  the 
accustomed  place  of  the  throne.  At  one  side  stood  the 
ancients  ;  at  the  other  his  queens  knelt,  weeping.  Nenetzin 
hid  her  face  in  his  hand,  and  sobbed  as  if  her  heart  were 
breaking ;  she  had  been  forgiven.  Now  and  then  Maxtla 
bent  over  him  to  cleanse  his  face  of  the  flowing  blood.  A 
group  of  cavaliers  were  off1  a  little  way,  silent  witnesses ; 
and  as  Cortes  drew  near,  Olmedo,  who  had  been  in  prayer, 
extended  toward  the  sufferer  the  ivory  cross  worn  usually  at 
his  girdle. 

"  0  king,"  said  the  good  man  imploringly,  "  thou  hast  yet 
a  moment  of  life,  which,  I  pray  thee,  waste  not.  Take  this 
holy  symbol  upon  thy  breast,  cross  thy  hands  upon  it, 
and  say  after  me  :  I  believe  in  One  God,  the  Father  Al 
mighty,  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  only  begotten  Son  of 
God,  and  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  Lord  and  Giver  of  Life. 
Then  pray  thou  :  0  God  the  Father  of  Heaven,  0  God  the 
Son,  Redeemer  of  the  World,  0  God  the  Holy  Ghost,  O 
Holy  Trinity,  One  God,  have  mercy  upon  my  soul !  Do 
these  things,  say  these  words,  0  king,  and  thou  shalt  live 
after  thy  bones  have  gone  to  dust.  Thou  shalt  live  forever, 
eternally  happy." 

Courtiers  and  cavaliers,  the  queens,  Nenetzin,  even  Cortes, 
watched  the  monarch's  waning  face ;  never  yet  Avere  people 
indifferent  to  the  issue  —  the  old,  old  issue  —  of  true  god 
against  false.  Marina  finished  the  interpretation ;  then  he 
raised  his  hand  tremulously,  and  put  the  holy  sign  away, 
saying,  - 


THE  DEATH  OF   MONTEZUMA.  547 

"  I  have  but  a  moment  to  live,  and  will  not  desert  the 
faith  of  my  fathers  now." 

A  great  sigh  of  relief  broke  from  the  infidels  ;  the  Chris 
tians  shuddered,  and  crossed  themselves  ;  then  Cortes  stepped 
to  Olmedo's  side. 

"  I  received  your  message,  and  am  here,"  said  he,  sternly. 
He  had  seen  the  cross  rejected. 

The  king  turned  his  pale  face,  and  fixed  his  glazing  eyes 
upon  the  conqueror ;  and  such  power  was  there  in  the  look 
that  the  latter  added,  with  softening  manner,  "  What  I  can 
do  for  thee  I  will  do.  I  have  always  been  thy  true  friend." 

"  0  Malinche,  I  hear  you,  and  your  words  make  dying 
easy,"  answered  Montezuma,  smiling  faintly. 

With  an  effort  he  sought  Cortes'  hand,  and  looking  at 
Acatlan  and  Tecalco,  continued,  — 

"  Let  me  intrust  these  women  and  their  children  to  you 
and  your  lord.  Of  all  that  which  was  mine  but  now  is 
yours,  —  lands,  people,  empire,  —  enough  to  save  them  from 
want  and  shame  were  small  indeed.  Promise  me ;  in  the 
hearing  of  all  these,  promise,  Malinche." 

Taint  of  anger  was  there  no  longer  on  the  soul  of  the  great 
Spaniard. 

"  Rest  thee,  good  king  !  "  he  said,  with  feeling.  "  Thy 
queens  and  their  children  shall  be  my  wards.  In  the  hear 
ing  of  all  these,  I  so  swear." 

The  listener  smiled  again ;  his  eyes  closed,  his  hand 
fell  down ;  and  so  still  was  he  that  they  began  to  think 
him  dead.  Suddenly  he  stirred,  and  said  faintly,  but  dis 
tinctly,  — 

"  Nearer,  uncles,  nearer." 

The  old  men  bent  over  him,  listening. 

"A  message  to  Guatamozin, — to  whom  I  give  my  last 
thought  as  king.  Say  to  him,  that  this  lingering  in  death  is 
no  fault  of  his ;  the  aim  was  true,  but  the  arrow  splintered 


548  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


upon  leaving  the  bow.  And  lest  the  world  hold  him  to  ac 
count  for  my  blood,  hear  me  say,  all 'of  you,  that  I  bade  him 
do  what  he  did.  And  in  sign  that  I  love  him,  take  my 
sceptre,  and  give  it  to  him  — 

The  voice  fell  away,  yet  the  lips  moved ;  lower  the  an 
cients  stooped,  — 

"  Tula  and  the  empire  go  with  the  sceptre,"  he  mur 
mured,  and  they  were  his  last  words,  —  his  will. 

A  wail  from  the  women  proclaimed  him  dead. 

The  unassoilzied  great  may  not  see  heaven ;  they  pass 
from  life  into  history,  where,  as  in  a  silent  sky,  they  shine 
for  ever  and  ever.  So  the  light  of  the  Indian  King  comes 
to  us,  a  glow  rather  than  a  brilliance  ;  for,  of  all  fates,  his 
was  the  saddest.  Better  not  to  be  than  to  become  the  orna 
ment  of  another's  triumph.  Alas  for  him  whose  death  is 
an  immortal  sorrow ! 

Out  of  the  palace-gate  in  the  early  morning  passed  the 
lords  of  the  court  in  procession,  carrying  the  remains  of  the 
monarch.  The  bier  was  heavy  with  royal  insignia  ;  nothing 
of  funeral  circumstance  was  omitted ;  honor  to  the  dead  was 
policy.  At  the  same  time  the  body  was  delivered,  Cortes  in 
dicted  the  murderers ;  the  ancients  through  whom  he  spoke 
were  also  the  bearers  of  the  dead  king's  last  will ;  back  to 
the  bold  Spaniard,  therefore,  came  the  reply,  — 

"  Cowards,  who  at  the  last  moment  beg  for  peace  !  you  are 
not  two  suns  away  from  your  own  graves !  Think  only  of 
them  ! " 

And  while  Cortes  was  listening  to  the  answer,  the  streets 
about  the  palace  filled  with  companies,  and  crumbling  para 
pet  and  solid  wall  shook  under  the  shock  of  a  new  assault. 

Then  Cortes'  spirit  arose. 

"  Mount,  gentlemen  !  "  he  cried.  "  The  hounds  come 
scrambling  for  the  scourge  ;  shame  on  us,  if  we  do  not  meet 
them.  And  hearken  !  The  prisoners  report  a  plague  in 


THE  DEATH   OF   MONTEZUMA.  549 

the  city,  of  which  the  new  king  is  dying,  and  hundreds  are 
sick.  It  is  the  small-pox." 

"  Viva  la  viruela  !  "  shouted  Alvarado. 

The  shout  spread  through  the  palace. 

"  Where  God's  curse  is,"  continued  Cortes,  "  Christians 
need  not  stay.  To-night  we  will  go.  To  clear  the  way  and 
make  this  day  memorable  let  us  ride..  Are  ye  ready?" 

They  answered  joyously. 

Again  the  gates  were  opened,  and  with  a  goodly  following 
of  infantry,  into  the  street  they  rode.  Nothing  withstood 
them ;  they  passed  the  canals  by  repairing  the  bridges  or 
filling  up  the  chasms ;  they  rode  the  whole  length  of  the 
street  until  the  causeway  clear  to  Tlacopan  was  visible.  St. 
James  fought  at  their  head  ;  even  the  Holy  Mother  stooped 
from  her  high  place,  and  threw  handfuls  of  dust  in  the 
enemy's  eyes. 

In  the  heat  of  the  struggle  suddenly  the  companies  fell 
back,  and  made  open  space  around  the  Christians;  then 
came  word  that  commissioners  from  king  Cuitlahua  waited 
in  the  palace  to  treat  of  peace. 

"  The  heathen  is  an  animal !  "  said  Cortes,  unable  to  re 
press  his  exiiltation.  "  To  cure  him  of  temper  and  win  his 
love,  there  is  nothing  like  the  scourge.  Let  us  ride  back, 
gentlemen." 

In  the  court-yard  stood  four  caciques,  stately  men  in  peace 
ful  garb.  They  touched  the  pavement  with  their  palms. 

"  We  are  come  to  say,  0  Malinche,  that  the  lord  Cuitla 
hua,  our  king,  yields  to  your  demand  for  peace.  He  prays 
you  to  give  your  terms  to  the  pabas  whom  you  captured  on 
the  temple,  that  they  may  bring  them  to  him  forthwith." 

The  holy  men  were  brought  from  their  cells,  one  leaning 
upon  the  other.  The  instructions  were  given  ;  then  the  two, 
with  the  stately  commissioners,  were  set  without  the  gate, 
and  Cortes  and  his  army  went  to  rest,  never  so  contented. 


550  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

They  waited  and  waited ;  but  the  envoys  came  not.  When 
the  sun  went  down,  they  knew  themselves  deceived  ;  and 
then  there  were  sworn  many  full,  round,  Cliristian  oaths, 
none  so  full,  so  round,  and  so  Christian  as  Cortes'. 

A  canoe,  meantime,  bore  Io'  to  Tula.  In  the  quiet  and 
perfumed  shade  of  the  chinampa  he  rested,  and  soothed  the 
fever  of  his  wound. 

Meanwhile,  also,  a  courier  from  the  teotuctli  passed  from 
temple  to  temple ;  short  the  message,  but  portentous,  — 

"  Blessed  be  HuitziT,  and  all  the  gods  of  our  fathers ! 
And,  as  he  at  last  saved  his  people,  blessed  be  the  memory 
of  Montezuma  !  Purify  the  altars,  and  make  ready  for  the 
sacrifice,  for  to-morrow  there  will  be  victims  ! " 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

ADIEU    TO    THE    PALACE. 

AT  sunset  a  cold  wind  blew  from  the  north,  followed 
by  a  cloud  which  soon  filled  the  valley  with  mist ; 
soon  the  mist  turned  to  rain ;  then  the  rain  turned  to  night, 
and  the  night  to  deepest  blackness. 

The  Christians,  thinking  only  of  escape  from  the  city, 
saw  the  change  of  weather  with  sinking  hearts.  With  one 
voice  they  had  chosen  the  night  as  most  favorable  for  the 
movement,  but  they  had  in  mind  then  a  semi-darkness 
warmed  by  south  winds  and  brilliant  with  stars  ;  not  a  time 
like  this  so  unexpectedly  come  upon  them,  —  tempest  added 
to  gloom,  icy  wind  splashing  the  earth  with  icy  water. 

Under  the  walls  the  sentinels  cowered  shivering  and 
listening  and,  as  is  the  habit  of  wanderers  surrounded  by 
discomforts  and  miseries,  musing  of  their  homes  so  far  away 


ADIEU  TO  THE   PALACE.  551 

and  of  the  path  thither ;  on  the  land  so  beset,  on  the  sea  so 
viewless.  Recalled  to  present  duty,  they  saw  nothing  but  the 
fires  of  the  nearest  temple  faintly  iridescent,  and  heard  only 
the  moans  of  the  blast  and  the  pattering  of  the  rain,  always 
so  in  harmony  with  the  spirit  when  it  is  oppressed  by  loneli 
ness  and  danger. 

Meantime,  the  final  preparation  for  retreat  went  on  with 
the  completeness  of  discipline. 

About  the  close  of  the  second  watch  of  the  night,  Cortes,  with 
his  personal  attendants,  —  page,  equerry,  and  secretaries,  — 
left  his  chamber  and  proceeded  to  the  eastern  gate,  where  he 
could  best  receive  reports,  and  assure  himself,  as  the  divisions 
filed  past  him,  that  the  column  was  formed  as  he  had  ordered. 
The  superstructure  of  the  gate  offered  him  shelter ;  but  he 
stood  out,  bridle  in  hand,  his  back  to  the  storm.  There  he 
waited,  grimly  silent,  absorbed  in  reflections  gloomy  as  the 
night  itself. 

Everything  incident  to  the  preparation  which  required 
light  had  been  done  before  the  day  expired ;  outside  the 
house,  therefore,  there  was-  not  a  spark  to  betray  the  move 
ment  to  the  enemy ;  in  fact,  nothing  to  betray  it  except  the 
beat  of  horses'  hoofs  and  the  rumble  of  gun-carriages,  and 
they  were  nigh  drowned  by  the  tempest.  If  the  saints  would 
but  help  him  clear  of  the  streets  of  the  city,  would  help  him 
to  the  causeway  even,  without  bringing  the  infidels  upon 
him,  sword  and  lance  would  win  the  rest :  so  the  leader 
prayed  and  trusted  the  while  he  waited. 

"  My  son,  is  it  thou  ] "  asked  a  man,  close  at  his  side. 

He  turned  quickly,  and  replied,  "  Father  Bartolom4 ! 
Welcome  !  What  dost  thou  bring  1 " 

"  Report  of  the  sick  and  wounded." 

"  I  remember,  I  remember  !  Of  all  this  bad  business,  by 
my  conscience  !  no  part  so  troubled  me  as  to  say  what  should 
be  done  with  them.  At  the  last  moment  thou  wert  good 


552  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


enough  to  take  the  task  upon  thyself.  Speak  :  what  did 
thy  judgment  dictate  1  What  did  thy  conscience  permit  1  " 

The  good  man  arranged  his  hood,  the  better  to  shield  his 
face  from  the  rain,  and  answered,  — 

"  Of  the  Christians,  all  who  are  able  will  take  their  places 
in  the  line  ;  the  very  sick  will  be  borne  by  Tlascalans  ;  the 
litters  are  ready  for  them." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Cortes. 

"  The  Tlascalans  —  " 

"  Cierto,  there  the  trouble  began ! "  and  Cortes  laid  his 
hand  heavily  on  the  priest's  shoulder.  "  Three  hundred  and 
more  of  them  too  weak  to  rise  from  the  straw,  which  yet 
hath  not  kept  their  bones  from  bruising  the  stony  floor ! 
Good  heart,  what  didst  thou  with  them  1 " 

"  They  are  dead." 

"  Mother  of  God  !  Didst  thou  kill  them  ?  "  Cortes 
griped  the  shoulder  until  Olmedo  groaned.  "  Didst  thou 
kill  them?" 

The  father  shook  himself  loose,  saying,  "  There  is  no 
blood  on  my  hands.  The  Holy  Mother  came  to  my  help  ; 
and  this  was  the  way.  Remembrance  of  the  love  of 
Christ  forbade  the  leaving  one  Christian  behind;  but  the 
heathen  born  had  no  such  appeal ;  they  must  be  left,  — 
necessity  said  so.  I  could  not  kill  them.  By  priestly 
office,  I  could  prepare  them  for  death  ;  and  so  I  went  from 
man  to  man  with  holy  formula  and  sacramental  wafer.  The 
caciques  were  with  me  the  while,  and  when  I  had  con 
cluded,  they  spoke  some  words  to  the  sufferers  :  then  I  saw 
what  never  Christian  saw  before.  Hardly  wilt  thou  believe 
me,  but,  Senor,  I  beheld  the  poor  wretches,  with  smiles,  bare 
their  breasts,  and  the  chiefs  begin  and  thrust  their  javelins 
into  the  hearts  of  all  there  lying." 

An  exclamation  of  horror  burst  from  Cortes,  — 

"  'T  was  murder,  murder  !     What  didst  thou  1 


ADIEU  TO  THE   PALACE.  553 

Olmedo  replied  quickly,  "  Trust  me,  my  son,  I  rushed 
in,  and  stayed  the  work  until  the  victims  themselves  prayed 
the  chiefs  to  go  on.  Not  even  then  did  I  give  over  my  ef 
forts,  —  not  until  they  made  me  understand  the  purpose  of 
the  butchery." 

"And  that]  Haste  thee,  father.  What  thou  tellest 
will  stagger  Christendom  !  " 

Again  Cortes  caught  the  priest's  shoulder. 

"  Nay,"  said  the  latter,  shrinking  back,  "  thy  hand  is 
hard  enough  without  its  glove  of  steel." 

"  Pardon,  father  ;  but,  —  " 

"  In  good  time,  my  son,  in  good  time  !  What,  but  for 
thy  impatience,  I  would  have  said  ere  this  is,  that  the  object 
was  to  save  the  honor  of  the  tribe,  and,  by  killing  the  un 
fortunates,  rescue  them  from  the  gods  of  their  enemy.  Ac 
cordingly,  the  bands  who  are  first  to  enter  the  palace  to-night 
or  to-morrow  will  find  treasure,  —  much  treasure  as  thou 
knowest,  —  but  not  one  victim." 

The  father  spoke  solemnly,  for  in  the  circumstance  there 
was  a  strain  of  pious  exaltation  that  found  an  echo  in  his 
own  devoted  nature  ;  greatly  was  he  shocked  to  hear  Cortes 
laugh. 

"  Valgame  Dios  !  "  he  cried,  crossing  himself ;  "  the  man 
blasphemes ! " 

"  Blasphemes,  saidst  thou  ? "  and  Cortes  checked  himself. 
"  May  the  saints  forget  me  forever,  if  I  laughed  at  the 
tragedy  thou  wert  telling !  I  laughed  at  thy  simplicity, 
father." 

"  Is  this  a  time  for  jesting  ] "  asked  Olmedo. 

"  Good  father,"  said  Cortes,  gravely,  "  the  bands  that  take 
the  palace  to-night  or  to-morro\v  will  find  no  treasure,  — 
not  enough  to  buy  a  Christmas  ribbon  for  a  country  girl. 
Look  now.  I  went  to  the  treasure-room  a  little  while  be 
fore  coming  here,  and  there  I  found  the  varlets  of  Narvaez 
24 


554  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


loading  themselves  with  bars  of  silver  and  gold ;  they  had 
sacks  and  pouches  belted  to  their  waists  and  shoulders,  and 
were  filling  them  to  bursting.  Possibly  some  gold-dust 
spilled  on  the  floor  may  remain  for  those  who  succeed  us  ; 
but  nothing  more.  Pray  thou,  good  priest,  good  friend, 
pray  thou  that  the  treasure  be  not  found  in  the  road  we 
travel  to-night." 

A  body  of  men  crossing  the  court-yard  attracted  Cortes  ; 
then  four  horsemen  approached,  and  stopped  before  him. 

"  Is  it  thou,  Sandoval  ]  "  he  asked. 

"  Yes,  Senor." 

"  And  Ordas,  Lugo,  and  Tapia  1 "    . 

"  Here,"  they  replied. 

"  And  thy  following,  Sandoval  ] " 

"  The  cavaliers  of  Narvaez  whom  thou  gavest  me,  one 
hundred  chosen  soldiers,  and  the  Tlascalans  to  the  number 
thou  didst  order." 

"  Bien  !  Lead  out  of  the  gate,  and  halt  after  making  what 
thou  deemest  room  for  the  other  divisions.  Christ  and  St, 
James  go  with  thee  !  " 

"  Amen  !  "  responded  Olmedo. 

And  so  the  vanguard  passed  him,  —  a  long  succession  of 
shadowy  files  that  he  heard  rather  than  saw.  Hardly  were 
they  gone  when  another  body  approached,  led  by  an  officer 
on  foot. 

"  Who  art  thou  1 "  asked  Cortes. 

"  Magarino,"  the  man  replied. 

"  Whom  have  you  1 " 

"One  hundred  and  fifty  Christians,  and  four  hundred 
Tlascalans." 

"  And  the  bridge  1  " 

"We  have  it  here." 

"  As  thou  lovest  life  and  honor,  captain,  heed  well  thine 
orders.  Move  on,  and  join  thyself  to  Sandoval." 


ADIEU  TO  THE  PALACE.  555 

The  bridge  spoken  of  was  a  portable  platform  of  hewn 
plank  bolted  to  a  frame  of  stout  timbers,  designed  to  pass  the 
column  over  the  three  canals  intersecting  the  causeway  to 
Tlacopan,  which,  in  the  sally  of  the  afternoon,  had  been 
found  to  be  bridgeless.  If  the  canals  were  deep  as  had 
been  reported,  well  might  Magarino  be  charged  with  partic 
ular  care ! 

In  the  order  of  march  next  came  the  centre  or  main  body, 
Cortes'  immediate  command.  The  baggage  was  in  their 
charge,  also  the  greater  part  of  the  artillery,  making  of  itself  a 
long  train,  and  one  of  vast  interest ;  for,  though  in  the  midst 
of  a  confession  of  failure,  the  leader  did  not  abate  his  in' 
tention  of  conquest,  —  such  was  a  peculiarity  of  his  genius. 

"  Mexia,  Avila,  good  gentlemen,"  he  said,  halting  the 
royal  treasurers,  "  let  me  assure  myself  of  what  beyond  per- 
ad venture  ye  are  assured." 

And  he  counted  the  horses  and  men  bearing  away  the 
golden  dividend  of  the  emperor,  knowing  if  what  they  had 
in  keeping  were  safely  lodged  in  the  royal  depositaries,  there 
was  nothing  which  might  not  be  condoned,  —  not  usurpa 
tion,  defeat  even.  Most  literally,  they  bore  his  fortune. 

A  moment  after  there  came  upon  him  a  procession  of 
motley  composition  :  disabled  Christians ;  servants,  mostly 
females,  carrying  the  trifles  they  most  affected,  —  here  a 
bundle  of  wearing  apparel,  there  a  cage  with  a  bird ;  prison 
ers,  amongst  others  the  prince  Cacama,  heart-broken  by  his 
misfortunes;  women  of  importance  and  rank,  comfortably 
housed  in  curtained  palanquins.  So  went  Marina,  her  slaves 
side  by  side  with  those  of  Nenetzin,  in  whose  mind  the 
fears,  sorrows,  and  emotions  of  the  thousands  setting  out  in 
tiie  march  had  no  place,  for  Alvarado  had  wrapped  her  in 
Ms  cloak,  and  lifted  her  into  the  carriage,  and  left  a  kiss  on 
her  lips,  with  a  promise  of  oversight  and  protection. 

As  if  to  make  good  the  promise,  almost  on  the  heels  of 


555  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


her  slaves  rode  the  deft  cavalier,  blithe  of  spirit,  because  of 
the  happy  chance  which  made  the  place  of  the  lover  that 
of  duty  also.  Behind  him,  well  apportioned  of  Christians 
and  Tlascalans  and  much  the  largest  of  the  divisions,  moved 
the  rear-guard,  of  which  he  and  Leon  were  chiefs.  His 
bay  mare,  Bradamante,  however,  seemed  not  to  share  his 
gayety,  but  tossed  her  head,  and  champed  the  bit,  and 
frequently  shied  as  if  scared. 

"  Have  done,  my  pretty  girl ! ''  he  said  to  her.  "  Fright 
ened,  art  thou  ]  'T  is  only  the  wind,  ugly  enough,  I  trow, 
but  nothing  worse.  Or  art  thou  jealous  ]  Verguenza  !  To 
morrow  she  shall  find  thee  in  the  green  pasture,  and  kiss 
thee  as  I  will  her." 

"  Ola,  captain !  "  said  Cortes,  approaching  him.  "  To 
whom  speakest  thou  1 " 

"  To  my  mistress,  Bradamante,  Senor,"  he  replied,  check 
ing  the  rein  impatiently.  "  Sometimes  she  hath  airs  prettier, 
as  thou  knowest,  than  the  prettinesses  of  a  woman  ;  but  now, 
—  So  ho,  girl !  —  now  she  —  Have  done,  I  say  !  —  now  she 
hath  a  devil.  And  where  she  got  it  I  know  not,  unless 
from  the  knave  Botello."  * 

"  What  of  him  1  Where  is  he  1 "  asked  Cortes,  with  sud 
den  interest. 

"  Back  with  Leon,  talking,  as  is  his  wont,  about  certain 
subtleties,  nameless  by  good  Christians,  but  which  he  never 
theless  calleth  prophecies." 

"  What  saith  the  man  now  1 " 

"  Out  of  the  mass  of  his  follies,  I  remember  three  :  that 
thou,  Senor,  from  extreme  misfortune,  shalt  at  last  attain 
great  honor ;  that  to-night  hundreds  of  us  will  be  lost,  — 
which  last  I  can  forgive  in  him,  if  only  his  third  prediction 
come  true." 

"And  that?" 

*  A  reputed  soothsayer. 


ADIEU  TO  THE  PALACE.  557 

"Nay,  Senor,  except  as  serving  to  show  that  the  rogue 
hath  in  him  a  savor  of  uncommon  fairness,  it  is  the  least 
important  of  all ;  he  saith  he  himself  will  be  amongst  the 
lost." 

Then  Cortes  laughed,  saying,  "  Wilt  thou  never  be  done 
with  thy  quips'?  Lead  on.  I  will  wait  here  a  little 
longer." 

Alvarado  vanished,  being  in  haste  to  recover  his  place 
behind  Nenetzin.  Before  Cortes  then,  with  the  echoless 
tread  of  panthers  in  the  glade,  hurried  the  long  array  of 
Tlascalans  ;  after  them,  the  cross-bowmen  and  arquebusiers, 
their  implements  clashing  against  their  heavy  armor ;  yet  he 
stood  silent,  pondering  the  words  of  Botello.  Not  until,  with 
wheels  grinding  and  shaking  the  pavement,  the  guns  reached 
him  did  he  wake  from  his  thinking. 

"  Ho,  Mesa,  well  met !  "  he  said  to  the  veteran,  whom 
he  distinguished  amid  a  troop  of  slaves  dragging  the  first 
piece.  "  This  is  not  a  night  like  those  in  Italy  where  thou 
didst  learn  the  cunning  of  thy  craft ;  yet  there  might  be 
worse  for  us." 

"  Mira,  Senor  !  "  and  Mesa  went  to  him,  and  said  in  a 
low  voice,  "What  thou  saidst  was  cheerily  spoken,  that  I 
might  borrow  encouragement ;  and  I  thank  thee,  for  I  have 
much  need  of  all  the  comfort  thou  hast  to  give.  A  poor  re 
turn  have  I,  Senor.  If  the  infidels  attack  us,  rely  not  upon 
the  guns,  not  even  mine  :  if  the  wind  did  not  whisk  the 
priming  away,  the  rain  would  drown  it,  —  and  then,"  —  his 
voice  sunk  to  a  whisper ;  "  our  matches  will  not  burn  !  " 

At  that  moment  a  gust  dashed  Cortes  with  water,  and  for 
the  first  time  he  was  chilled,  —  chilled  until  his  teeth  chat 
tered  ;  for  simultaneously  a  presentiment  of  calamity  touched 
him  with  what  in  a  man  less  brave  would  have  been  fear. 
He  saw  how,  without  the  guns,  Botello's  second  prediction 
was  possible  !  Nevertheless,  he  replied,  — 


558  THE   FAIR   GOD. 


"  The  saints  can  help  their  own  in  the  dark  as  well 
as  in  the  light.  Do  thy  best.  To-morrow  thou  shalt  be 
captain." 

Then  Cortes  mounted  his  horse,  and  took  his  shield,  and 
to  his  wrist  chained  his  battle-axe  :  still  he  waited.  A 
company  of  horsemen  brushed  past  him,  followed  by  a 
solitary  rider. 

"  Leon  !  "  said  Cortes. 

The  cavalier  stopped,  and  replied,  — 

"What  wouldst  thou,  SenorT 

"  Are  the  guards  withdrawn  ? " 

"  All  of  them." 

"  And  the  sentinels  ?  " 

"  I  have  been  to  every  post ;  not  a  man  is  left." 

Cortes  spoke  to  his  attendants  and  they,  too,  rode  off; 
when  they  were  gone  he  said  to  Leon,  — 

"  Now  we  may  go." 

And  with  that  together  they  passed  out  into  the  street. 
Cortes  turned,  and  looked  toward  the  palace,  now  deserted ; 
but  the  night  seemed  to  have  snatched  the  pile  away,  and 
in  its  place  left  a  blackened  void.  Fugitive  as  he  was, 
riding  he  knew  not  to  what  end,  he  settled  in  his  saddle 
again  with  a  sigh  —  not  for  the  old  house  itself,  nor  for  the 
comfort  of  its  roof,  nor  for  the  refuge  in  time  of  danger ;  not 
for  the  Christian  dead  reposing  in  its  gardens,  their  valor 
wasted  and  their  graves  abandoned,  nor  for  that  other 
victim  there  sacrificed  in  his  cause,  whose  weaknesses  might 
not  be  separated  from  a  thousand  services,  and  a  royalty 
superbly  Eastern  :  these  were  things  to  wake  the  emotions 
of  youths  and  maidens,  young  in  the  world,  and  of  poets, 
dreamy  and  simple-minded  ;  he  sighed  for  the  power  he  had 
there  enjoyed,  —  the  weeks  and  months  when  his  word  was 
law  for  an  empire  of  shadowy  vastness,  and  he  was  master, 
in  fact,  of  a  king  of  kings,  —  immeasurable  power  now  lost, 
apparently  forever. 


THE  PURSUIT  BEGINS.  559 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE   PURSUIT   BEGINS. 

IN  the  afternoon  the  king  Cuitlahua,  whose  sickness  had 
greatly  increased,  caused  himself  to  be  taken  to  Chapul- 
tepec,  where  he  judged  he  would  be  safer  from  the  enemy 
and  better  situated  for  treatment  by  his  doctors  and  nurses. 
Before  leaving,  however,  he  appointed  a  deputation  of  an 
cients,  and  sent  them,  with  his  signet  and  a  message,  to 
Guatamozin. 

The  'tzin,  about  the  same  time,  changed  his  quarters 
from  the  teocallis,  now  but  a  bare  pavement  high  in  air, 
to  the  old  Cu  of  Quetzal'.  That  the  strangers  must  shortly 
attempt  to  leave  the  city  he  kneAV ;  so  giving  up  the  assault 
on  the  palace,  he  took  measures  to  destroy  them,  if  pos 
sible,  while  in  retreat.  The  road  they  would  move  by 
was  the  only  point  in  the  connection  about  which  he  was 
undecided.  Anyhow,  they  must  seek  the  land  by  one  of 
the  causeways.  Those  by  Tlacopan  and  Tepejaca  were 
the  shortest ;  therefore,  he  believed  one  or  the  other  of 
them  would  be  selected.  Upon  that  theory,  he  accommo 
dated  all  his  preparations  to  ari  attack  from  the  lake,  while 
the  foe  were  outstretched  on  the  narrow  dike.  As  sufficient 
obstructions  in  their  front,  he  relied  upon  the  bridgeless 
canals ;  their  rear  he  would  himself  assail  with  a  force 
chosen  from  the  matchless  children  of  the  capital,  whose 
native  valor  was  terribly  inflamed  by  the  ruin  and  suffering 
they  had  seen  and  endured.  The  old  Cu  Avas  well  located 
for  his  part  of  the  operation  ;  and  there,  in  the  sanctuary, 
surrounded  by  a  throng  of  armed  caciques  and  lords,  the 
deputies  of  the  king  Cuitlahua  found  him. 


560  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


If  the  shade  of  Mualox  lingered  about  the  altar  of  the 
peaceful  god,  no  doubt  it  thrilled  to  see  the  profanation  of 
the  holy  place ;  if  it  sought  refuge  in  the  cells  below,  alas ! 
they  were  rilled  by  an  army  in  concealment ;  and  if  it  went 
further,  down  to  what  the  paba,  in  his  poetic  madness,  had 
lovingly  called  his  World,  alas  again  !  the  birds  were  dead, 
the  shrubs  withered,  the  angel  gone  ;  only  the  fountain 
lived,  of  Darkness  a  sweet  voice  singing  in  the  ear  of 
Silence. 

So  the  'tzin  being  found,  this  was  the  message  delivered 
to  him  from  the  king  Cuitlahua  :  — 

"  May  the  gods  love  you  as  I  do  !  I  am  sick  with  the 
sickness  of  the  strangers.  Come  not  near  me,  lest  you  be 
taken  also.  I  go  to  Chapultepec  to  get  ready  for  death. 
If  I  die,  the  empire  is  yours.  Meantime,  I  give  you  all 
power." 

Guatamozin  took  the  signet,  and  was  once  more  master,  if 
not  king,  in  the  city  of  his  fathers.  The  deputies  kissed  his 
hand  ;  the  chiefs  saluted  him  ;  and  when  the  tidings  reached 
the  companies  below,  the  cells  rang  as  never  before,  not 
even  with  the  hymns  of  their  first  tenants. 

"While  yet  the  incense  of  the  ovation  sweetened  the  air 
about  him,  he  looked  up  at  the  image  of  the  god,  —  web  of 
spider  on  its  golden  sceptre,  dust  on  its  painted  shield,  dust 
bending  its  plumes  of  fire  ;  he  looked  up  into  the  face,  yet 
fair  and  benignant,  and  back  to  him  rushed  the  speech  of 
Mualox,  clear  as  if  freshly  spoken,  —  "  Anahuac,  the  beauti 
ful,  —  her  existence,  and  the  glory  and  power  that  make  it  a 
thing  of  worth,  are  linked  to  your  action.  0  'tzin,  your  fate 
and  hers,  and  that  of  the  many  nations,  is  one  and  the 
same  !  "  and  the  beating  of  his  pulse  quickened  thrice  ;  for 
now  he  could  see  that  the  words  were  prophetic  of  his 
country  saved  by  him. 

Then  up  the  broad  steps  of  the  Cu,  into  the  sanctuary. 


THE  PURSUIT  BEGINS.  561 

and  through  the  crowd,  rushed  Hualpa ;  the  rain  streamed 
from  his  quilted  armor ;  and  upon  the  floor  in  front  of  the 
'tzin,  with  a  noise  like  the  fall  of  a  heavy  hammer,  he 
dropped  the  butt  of  a  lance  to  which  was  affixed  a  Christian 
sword -blade. 

"  At  last,  at  last,  0  'tzin  !  "  he  said,  "  the  strangers  are  in 
the  street,  marching  toward  Tlacopan." 

The  company  hushed  their  very  breathing. 

"All  of  them]"  asked  the  'tzin. 

"All  but  the  dead." 

Then  on  the  'tzin's  lip  a  smile,  in  his  eyes  a  flash  as  of  flame. 

"  Hear  you,  friends  1 "  he  said.  "  The  time  of  Vengeance 
has  come.  You  know  your  places  and  duty.  Go,  each  one. 
May  the  gods  go  with  you ! " 

In  a  moment  he  and  Hualpa  were  alone.  The  latter  bent 
his  head,  and  crossing  his  hands  upon  his  breast  said,  — 

"  When  the  burthen  of  my  griefs  has  been  greatest,  and 
I  cried  out  continually,  O  'tzin,  you  have  held  me  back, 
promising  that  my  time  would  come.  I  doubt  not  your  bet 
ter  judgment,  but  —  but  I  have  no  more  patience.  My 
en&my  is  abroad,  and  she,  whom  I  cannot  forget,  goes  with 
him.  Is  not  the  time  come  1 " 

Guatamozin  laid  his  hand  on  Hualpa's  :  — 

"  Be  glad,  0  comrade !  The  time  has  come ;  and  as 
you  have  prepared  for  it  like  a  warrior,  go  now,  and  get  the 
revenge  so  long  delayed.  I  give  you  more  than  permission, 
—  I  give  you  my  prayers.  Where  are  the  people  who  are  to 
go  with  you  1 " 

"  In  the  canoes,  waiting." 

They  were  silent  awhile.  Then  the  'tzin  took  the  lance, 
and  looked  at  the  long,  straight  blade  admiringly  ;  under  its 
blue  gleam  lay  the  secret  of  its  composition,  by  which  the 
few  were  able  to  mock  the  many,  and  ravage  the  capital  and 
country. 

24"  Jj 


562  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  Dread  nothing ;  it  will  conquer,"  he  said,  handing  the 
weapon  back. 

Hualpa  kissed  his  hand,  and  replied,  "  I  thought  to 
make  return  for  your  preferments,  0  'tzin,  by  serving  you 
well  when  you  were  king  ;  but  the  service  need  not  be  put 
off  so  long.  I  thank  the  gods  for  this  night's  opportunity. 
If  I  come  not  with  the  rising  of  the  sun  to-morrow, 
Nenetzin  can  tell  you  my  story.  Farewell !  " 

With  his  face  to  his  benefactor,  he  moved  away. 

"  Have  a  care  for  yourself !  "  said  the  'tzin,  regarding  him 
earnestly  ;  "  and  remember  there  must  be  no  sign  of  attack 
until  the  strangers  have  advanced  to  the  first  causeway.  I 
will  look  for  you  to-morrow.  Farewell ! " 

While  yet  the  'tzin's  thoughts  went  out  compassionately 
after  his  unhappy  friend,  up  from  their  irksome  hiding  in  the 
cells  came  the  companies  he  was  to  lead,  —  a  long  array  in 
white  tunics-  of  quilted  cotton.  At  their  head,  the  uniform 
covering  a  Christian  cuirass,  and  with  Christian  helm  and 
battle-axe,  be  marched  ;  and  so,  through  the  darkness  and 
the  storm,  the  pursuit  began. 


CHAPTEE  XVIII. 

LA   NOCHE   TRISTE. 

r  I  iHE  movement  of  the  fugitive  army  was  necessarily 
_L  slow.  Stretched  out  in  the  street,  it  formed  a  column 
of  irregular  front  and  great  depth.  A  considerable  portion 
was  of  non-combatants,  such  as  the  sick  and  wounded, 
the  servants,  women,  and  prisoners ;  to  whom  might  be 
added  the  Indians  carrying  the  baggage  and  ammunition,  and 


LA   NOCHE  TRISTE.  563 


laboriously  dragging  the  guns.  The  darkness,  and  the  rain 
beaten  into  the  faces  of  the  sufferers  by  the  wind,  made  the 
keeping  order  impossible  ;  at  each  step  the  intervals  between 
individuals  and  between  the  divisions  grew  wider  and 
wider.  After  crossing  two  or  three  of  the  bridges,  a  general 
confusion  began  to  prevail ;  the  officers,  in  dread  of  the  enemy, 
failed  to  call  out,  and  the  soldiers,  bending  low  to  protect  their 
faces,  and  hugging  their  arms  or  their  treasure,  marched  in 
dogged  silence,  indifferent  to  all  but  themselves.  Soon  what 
was  at  first  a  fair  column  in  close  order  became  an  irregular 
procession ;  here  a  crowd  of  all  the  arms  mixed,  there  a 
thin  line  of  stragglers. 

It  is  a  simple  tiling,  I  know,  yet  nothing  has  so  much  to 
do  with  what  we  habitually  call  our  spirits  as  the  condition 
in  which  we  are  at  the  time.  Under  an  open  sky,  with  the 
breath  of  a  glowing  morning  in  our  nostrils,  we  sing, 
laugh,  and  are  brave ;  but  let  the  cloud  hide  the  blue  ex 
panse  and  cover  our  walk  with  shadow,  and  we  shrink 
within  ourselves  ;  or  worse,  let  the  walk  be  in  the  night, 
through  a  strange  place,  with  rain  and  cold  added,  and 
straightway  the  fine  thing  we  call  courage  merges  itself  into 
a  sense  of  duty  or  sinks  into  humbler  concern  for  comfort 
and  safety.  So,  not  a  man  in  all  the  column,  —  not  a  cava 
lier,  not  a  slave,  —  but  felt  himself  oppressed  by  the  circum 
stances  of  the  situation  ;  those  who,  only  that  afternoon,  had 
charged  like  lions  along  that  very  street  now  yielded  to  the 
indefinable  effect,  and  were  weak  of  heart  even  to  timidity. 
The  imagination  took  hold  of  most  of  them,  especially  of 
the  humbler  class,  and,  lining  the  way  with  terrors  all  its 
own,  reduced  them  to  the  state  when  panic  rushes  in  to 
complete  what  fear  begins.  They  started  at  the  soughing  of 
the  wind  ;  drew  to  strike  each  other ;  cursed  the  rattle  of 
their  arms,  the  hoof-beats  of  the  horses,  the  rumble  of  the 
carriage-wheels ;  on  the  houses,  vaguely  defined  against  the 


564  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


sky,  they  saw  sentinels  ready  to  give  the  alarm,  and  down 
the  intersecting  streets  heard  the  infidel  legions  rushing  upon 
them ;  very  frequently  they  stumbled  over  corpses  yet  cum 
bering  the  way  after  the  day's  fight,  and  then  they  whispered 
the  names  of  saints,  and  crossed  themselves  :  the  dead,  al 
ways  suggestive  of  death,  were  never  so  much  so  to  them. 
1  And  so,  for  many  squares,  across  canals,  past  palaces  and 
temples,  they  marched,  and  nothing  to  indicate  an  enemy ; 
the  city  seemed  deserted. 

"  Hist,  Senor  !  "  said  Duero,  speaking  with  bated  breath. 
"  Hast  thou  not  heard  of  the  army  of  unbelievers  that,  in 
the  night,  while  resting  in  their  camp,  were  by  a  breath  put 
to  final  sleep  1  Verily,  the  same  good  angel  of  the  Lord  hath 
been  here  also." 

"  Nay,  compadre  mio,"  replied  Cortes,  bending  in  his  sad 
dle,  "  I  cannot  so  persuade  myself.  If  the  infidels  meant 
to  let  us  go,  the  going  would  not  be  so  peaceful.  From 
some  house-top  we  should  have  had  their  barbarous  farewell, 
—  a  stone,  a  lance,  an  arrow,  at  least  a  curse.  By  many 
signs,  —  for  that  matter,  by  the  rain  which,  driven  through 
the  visor  bars,  is  finding  its  way  down  the  doublet  under  my 
breastplate,  —  by  many  signs,  I  know  we  are  in  the  midst  of 
a  storm.  Good  Mother  forfend,  lest,  bad  as  it  is,  it  presage 
something  worse !  " 

At  that  moment  a  watcher  on  the  azoteas  of  a  temple  near 
by  chanted  the  hour  of  midnight. 

"Didst  hear?"  asked  Cortes.  "They  are  not  asleep! 
Olmedo  !  father !  Where  art  thou  1 " 

"  What  wouldst  thou,  my  son  ] " 

"  That  thou  shouldst  not  get  lost  in  this  Tophet ;  more 
especially,  that  thou  shouldst  keep  to  thy  prayers." 

And  about  that  time  Sandoval,  at  the  head  of  his  ad 
vanced  guard,  rode  from  the  street  out  on  the  open  cause 
way.  Farther  on,  but  at  no  great  distance,  he  came  to  the 


LA   NOCHE  TRISTE.  565 

first  canal.  "While  there,  waiting  for  the  bridge  to  be  brought 
forward,  he  heard  from  the  lake  to  his  right  the  peal  long 
and  loud  of  a  conch-shell.  His  heart,  in  battle  steadfast 
as  a  rock,  throbbed  faster ;  and  with  raised  shield  and  close- 
griped  sword,  he  listened,  as  did  all  with  him,  while  other 
shells  took  up  and  carried  the  blast  back  to  the  city,  and  far 
out  over  the  lake. 

In  the  long  array  none  failed  to  interpret  the  sound  aright  j 
all  recognized  a  signal  of  attack,  and  halted,  the  slave  by 
his  prolong,  the  knight  on  his  horse,  each  one  as  the  moment 
found  him.  They  said  not  a  word,  but  listened  ;  and  as  they 
heard  the  peal  multiply  countlessly  in  every  direction,  —  now 
close  by,  now  far  off,  —  surprise,  the  first  emotion,  turned  to 
dismay.  Flight,  —  darkness,  —  storm,  —  and  now  the  in 
fidels  !  "  May  God  have  mercy  on  us  !  "  murmured  the 
brave,  making  ready  to  fight.  "  May  God  have  mercy  on 
us  !  "  echoed  the  timid,  ready  to  fly. 

The  play  of  the  wind  upon  the  lake  seemed  somewhat 
neutralized  by  the  density  of  the  rain ;  still  the  waves 
splashed  lustily  against  the  grass-grown  sides  of  the  cause 
way  ;  and  while  Saiidoval  was  wondering  if  there  were 
many,  who,  in  frail  canoes,  would  venture  upon  the  waste  at 
such  a  time,  another  sound,  heard,  as  it  were,  under  that  of 
the  conchs,  yet  too  strong  to  be  confounded  with  wind  or 
surging  water,  challenged  his  attention  ;  then  he  was  assured. 

"  Now,  gentlemen,"  he  said,  "  get  ye  ready ;  they  are 
coining.  Pass  the  word,  and  ride  one  to  Magarino,  — 
speed  to  him,  speed  him  here  !  His  bridge  laid  now  were 
worth  a  hundred  lives  !  " 

As  the  yells  of  the  infidels  —  or,  rather,  their  yell,  for  the 
many  voices  rolled  over  the  water  in  one  great  volume  — 
grew  clearer  their  design  became  manifest. 

Cortes  touched  Olmedo  :  — 

"  Dost  thou  remember  the  brigantines  ? " 


566  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


"  What  of  them  ? " 

"  Only,  father,  that  what  will  happen  to-night  would  not 
if  they  were  afloat.  Now  shall  we  pay  the  penalty  of  their 
loss.  Ay  de  mi!"  Then  he  said  aloud  to  the  cavaliers, 
Morla,  Olid,  Avila,  and  others.  "  By  my  conscience,  a  dark 
day  for  us  was  that  in  which  the  lake  went  back  to  the 
heathen,  —  brewer,  it,  of  this  darker  night  !  An  end  of 
loitering !  Bid  the  trumpeters  blow  the  advance !  One 
ride  forward  to  hasten  Magarino  ;  another  to  the  rear  that 
the  division  may  be  closed  up.  No  space  for  the  dogs  to 
land  from  their  canoes.  Hearken  !  " 

The  report  of  a  gun,  apparently  back  in  the  city,  reached 
them. 

"  They  are  attacking  the  rear-guard  !  Mesa  spoke  then. 
On  the  right  hear  them,  and  on  the  left !  Mother  of  God, 
if  our  people  stand  not  firm  now,  better  prayers  for  our 
souls  than  fighting  for  our  lives  !  " 

A  stone  then  struck  Avila,  startling  the  group  with  its 
clang  upon  his  armor. 

"  A  slinger  !  "  cried  Cortes.  "  On  the  right  here,  —  can 
ye  see  him  ? " 

They  looked  that  way,  but  saw  nothing.  Then  the  sense 
of  helplessness  in  exposure  smote  them,  and,  knightly  as 
they  were,  they  also  felt  the  common  fear. 

"  Make  way  !  Room,  room !  "  shouted  Magarino,  rushing 
to  the  front,  through  the  advance-guard.  His  Tlascalans 
were  many  and  stout ;  to  swim  the  canal,  —  with  ropes 
to  draw  the  bridge  after  them,  —  to  plant  it  across  the 
chasm,  were  things  achieved  in  a  moment. 

"  "Well  done,  Magarino  !  Forward,  gentlemen,  —  forward 
all !  "  so  saying,  Sandoval  spurred  across ;  after  him,  in  reck 
less  haste,  his  whole  division  rushed.  The  platform,  quiver 
ing  throughout,  was  stancher  than  the  stone  revetments 
upon  which  its  ends  were  planted ;  calcined  by  fire,  they 


LA  NOCHE  TRISTE.  567 

crumbled  like  chalk.  The  crowd  then  crossing,  sensible 
that  the  floor  was  giving  way  under  them,  yelled  with  ter 
ror,  and  in  their  frantic  struggle  to  escape  toppled  some  of 
them  into  the  canal.  None  paused  to  look  after  the  unfor 
tunates  ;  for  the  shouting  of  the  infidels,  which  had  been 
coming  nearer  and  nearer,  now  rose  close  at  hand,  muffling 
the  thunder  of  the  horses  plunging  on  the  sinking  bridge. 
Moreover,  stones  and  arrows  began  to  fall  in  that  quarter 
with  effect,  quickening  the  hurry  to  get  away. 

Cortes  reached  the  bridge  at  the  same  time  the  infidels 
reached  the  causeway.  He  called  to  Magarino ;  before  the 
good  captain  could  answer,  the  waves  to  the  right  hand 
became  luminous  with  the*  plashing  of  countless  paddles,  and 
a  fleet  of  canoes  burst  out  of  the  darkness.  Up  rose  the 
crews,  ghost-like  in  their  white  armor,  and  showered  the 
Christians  with  missiles.  A  cry  of  terror,  —  a  rush,  —  and 
the  cavaliers  were  pushed  on  the  bridge,  which  they  jammed 
deeper  in  the  rocks.  Some  horses,  wild  with  fright,  leaped 
into  the  lake,  and,  iron-clad,  like  their  riders,  were  seen  no 
more. 

On  the  further  side,  Cortes  wheeled  about,  and  shouted 
to  his  friends.  Olmedo  answered,  so  did  Morla ;  then  they 
were  swept  onward. 

Alone,  and  in  peril  of  being  forced  down  the  side  of  the 
dike,  Cortes  held  his  horse  to  the  place.  The  occasional  boom 
of  guns,  a  straggling  fire  of  small  arms,  and  the  nnintermitted 
cries  of  the  infidels,  in  tone  exultant  and  merciless,  assured  him 
that  the  attack  was  the  same  everywhere  down  the  column.. 
One  look  he  gave  the  scene  near  by,  —  on  the  bridge,  a  mass 
of  men  struggling,  cursing,  praying ;  wretches  falling,  their 
shrieks  shrill  with  despair ;  the  lake  whitening  with  assail 
ants  !  He  shuddered,  and  called  on  the  saints ;  then  the 
instinct  of  the  soldier  prevailed  :  — 

"  Ola,  comrades  !  "  he  cried.     "  It  is  nothing.     Stand,  if 


568  THE  FAIR  GOD. 

ye  love  life.  Stand,  and  fight,  as  ye  so  well  know  how  ! 
Holy  Cross  !  Christo  y  Santiago  !  " 

He  spurred  into  the  thick  of  the  throng.  In  vain  :  the 
current  was  too  strong ;  the  good  steed  seconded  him  with 
hoof  and  frontlet ;  now  he  prayed,  now  cursed ;  at  last 
he  yielded,  seeing  that  on  the  other  side  of  the  bridge  was 
Fear,  on  his  side  Panic. 

When  the  signal  I  have  described,  borne  from  the  lake  to 
the  city,  began  to  resound  from  temple  to  temple,  the  rear 
guard  were  yet  many  squares  from  the  causeway,  and  had, 
for  the  most  part,  become  merely  a  procession  of  drenched 
and  cowering  stragglers.  The  sound  alarmed  them ;  and 
divining  its  meaning,  they  assembled  in  accidental  groups, 
and  so  hurried  forward. 

Nenetzin  and  Marina,  yet  in  company,  were  also  startled 
by  the  noisy  shells.  The  latter  stayed  not  to  question  or 
argue ;  at  her  word,  sharply  spoken,  her  slaves  followed  fast 
after  the  central  division,  and  rested  not  until  they  had 
gained  a  place  well  in  advance  of  the  non-combatants,  whose 
slow  and  toilsome  progress  she  had  shrewdly  dreaded.  Not 
so  Nenetzin  :  the  alarm  proceeded  from  her  countrymen ; 
feared  she,  therefore,  for  her  lover;  and  when,  vigilant  as 
he  was  gallant,  he  rode  to  her,  and  kissed  her  hand,  and  spoke 
to  her  in  lover's  phrase,  she  laughed,  though  not  understand 
ing  a  word,  and  bade  her  slaves  stay  with  him. 

Last  man  in  the  column  was  Leon,  brave  gentleman, 
good  captain.  With  his  horsemen,  he  closed  upon  the 
.artillery. 

"  Friend,"  he  said  to  Mesa,  "  the  devil  is  in  the  night. 
As  thou  art  familiar  with  wars  as  Father  Olmedo  with  mass, 
how  readest  thou  the  noise  we  hear  ? " 

The  veteran,  walking  at  the  moment  between  two  of  his 
guns,  replied,  — 

"  Interpret  we  each  for  himself,  Senor.  I  am  ready  to 
fight.  See  !  " 


LA  NOCHE  TRISTE.  569 

And  drawing  his  cloak  aside,  he  showed  the  ruddy  spark 
of  a  lighted  match. 

"  As  thou  seest,  I  am  ready  ;  yet  "  —  and  he  lowered  his 
voice  —  "I  shame  not  to  confess  that  I  wish  we  were  well 
out  of  this." 

"  Good  soldier  art  thou  !  "  said  Leon.  "  I  will  stay  with 
thee.  A  la  Madre  todos  !  " 

The  exclamation  had  scarcely  passed  his  lips  when  to  their 
left  and  front  the  darkness  became  peopled  with  men  in 
white,  rushing  upon  them,  and  shouting,  "  Up,  up,  Tlateloco  ! 
0,  0  luilones,  luilones  !  "  * 

"  Turn  thy  guns  quickly,  Mesa,  or  we  are  lost ! "  cried 
Leon ;  and  to  his  comrades,  "  Swords  and  axes  !  Upon  them, 
gentlemen  !  Santiago,  Santiago  !  " 

The  veteran  as  promptly  resolved  himself  into  action.  A 
word  to  his  men,  —  then  he  caught  a  wheel  with  one  hand, 
and  swung  the  carriage  round,  and  applied  the  match. 
The  gun  failed  fire,  but  up  sprang  a  hissing  flame,  and  in 
its  lurid  light  out  came  all  the  scene  about:  the  infidels 
pouring  into  the  street,  the  Tlascalans  and  many  Spaniards 
in  flight,  Leon  charging  almost  alone,  and  right  amongst 
the  guns  a  fighting  man,  —  by  his  armor,  half  pagan,  half 
Christian,  —  all  this  Mesa  saw,  and  more,  —  that  the 
slaves  had  abandoned  the  ropes,  and  that  of  the  gunners  the 
few  who  stood  their  ground  were  struggling  for  life  hand  to 
hand ;  still  more,  that  the  gun  he  was  standing  by  looked 
point-blank  into  the  densest  ranks  of  the  foe.  Never  word 
spoke  he ;  repriming  the  piece,  he  applied  the  match  again. 
The  report  shook  the  earth,  and  was  heard  and  recognized  by 
Cortes  out  on  the  causeway ;  but  it  was  the  veteran's  last 
shot.  To  his  side  sprang  the .  'tzin  :  in  his  ear  a  war-cry, 
on  his  morion  a  blow,  and  under  the  gun  he  died.  When 
Duty  loses  a  good  servant  Honor  gains  a  hero. 
*  Benial  Diaz,  Hist,  le  la  Coiiq. 


570  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


The  fight  —  or,  rather,  the  struggle  of  the  few  against  the 
many  —  went  on.  The  'tzin  led  his  people  boldly,  and  they 
failed  him  not.  Leon  drew  together  all  he  could  of  Chris 
tians  and  Tlascalans ;  then,  as  game  to  be  taken  at  leisure, 
his  enemy  left  him.  Soon  the  fugitives  following  Alvarado 
heard  a  strange  cry  coming  swiftly  after  them,  "  0,  0  lail- 
ones  !  0  luilones  !  " 

And  through  the  rain  and  the  night,  doubly  dark  in  the 
canals,  Hualpa  sped  to  the  open  lake,  followed  by  nine 
canoes,  fashioned  for  speed,  each  driven  by  six  oarsmen,  and 
carrying  four  warriors  ;  so  there  were  with  him  nine  and 
thirty  chosen  men,  with  linked  mail  under  their  white  tunics, 
and  swords  of  steel  on  their  long  lances,  —  arms  and  armor 
of  the  Christians. 

Off  the  causeway,  beyond  the  first  canal,  he  waited,  until 
the  great  flotillas,  answering  his  signal,  closed  in  on  the  right 
hand  and  left ;  then  he  started  for  the  canal,  chafing  at  the 
delay  of  his  vessels. 

"  Faster,  faster,  my  men  !  "  he  said  aloud  ;  then  to  him 
self,  "  Now  will  I  wrest  her  from  the  robber,  and  after  that 
she  will  give  me  her  love  again.  0  happy,  happy  hour  !  " 

He  sought  the  canal,  thinking,  doubtless,  that  the  Chris 
tians  would  find  it  impassable,  and  that  in  their  front,  as  the 
place  of  safety,  they  would  most  certainly  place  Nenetzin. 
There,  into  the  press  he  drove. 

"  Not  here  !     Back,  my  men  !  "  he  shouted. 

The  chasm  was  bridged. 

And  marvelling  at  the  skill  of  the  strangers,  which  over 
came  difficulties  as  by  magic,  and  trembling  lest  they  should 
escape  and  his  love  be  lost  to  him  after  all,  he  turned  his 
canoe,  —  if  possible,  to  be  the  first  at  the  next  canal.  Others 
of  his  people  were  going  in  the  same  direction,  but  he  out- 
stript  them. 

"  Faster,  faster  !  "  he  cried  ;  and  the  paddles  threshed  the 


LA  NOCHE  TRISTE.  571 

water,  —  wings  of  the  lake-birds  not  more  light  and  free. 
Into  the  causeway  he  bent,  so  close  as  to  hear  the  tramp  of 
horses  ;  sometimes  shading  his  eyes  against  the  rain,  and 
looking  up,  he  saw  the  fugitives,  black  against  the  clouds,  — • 
strangers  and  Tlascalans,  —  plumes  of  men,  but  never  scarf 
of  woman. 

Very  soon  the  people  on  the  causeway  heard  his  call  to 
the  boatmen,  and  the  plash  of  the  paddles,  and  they  quick 
ened  their  pace. 

"  Adelante  !  adelante  !  "  cried  Sandoval,  and  forward 
dashed  the  cavaliers. 

"  0  my  men,  land  us  at  the  canal  before  the  strangers 
come  up,  and  in  my  palace  at  ease  you  shall  eat  and  drink 
all  your  lives  !  Faster,  faster  !  " 

So  Hualpa  urged  his  rowers,  and  in  their  sinewy  hands 
the  oaken  blades  bent  like  bows. 

Behind  dropped  the  footmen,  —  even  the  Tlascalans  ;  and 
weak  from  hunger  and  wounds,  behind  dropped  some  of  the 
horses.  Shook  the  causeway,  foamed  the  water.  A  hun 
dred  yards,  —  and  the  coursers  of  the  lake  were  swift  as  the 
coursers  of  the  land  ;  half  a  mile,  —  and  the  appeal  of  the  in 
fidel  and  the  cheering  cry  of  the  Christian  went  down  the 
wind  on  the  same  gale.  At  last,  as  Hualpa  leaped  from  his 
boat,  Sandoval  checked  his  horse,  —  both  at  the  canal. 

Up  the  dike  the  infidels  clambered  to  the  attack.  And 
there  was  clang  of  swords  and  axes,  and  rearing  and  plung 
ing  of  steeds  ;  then  the  voice  of  the  good  captain,  — 

"  God's  curse  iipon  them  !     They  have  our  shields  !  " 

A  horse,  pierced  to  the  heart,  leaped  blindly  down  the 
bank,  and  from  the  water  rose  the  rider's  imploration  : 
"  Help,  help,  comrades  !  For  the  love  of  Christ,  help  !  I 
am  drowning  ! " 

Again  Sandoval,  — 

"  Cuidado,  —  beware  '     They  have  our  swords  on  their 


572  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


lances ! "  Then,  observing  his  horsemen  giving  ground, 
"  Stand  fast !  Unless  we  hold  the  canal  for  Magarino,  all  is 
lost !  Upon,  them  !  Santiago,  Santiago  !  " 

A  rally  and  a  charge  !  The  sword-blades  did  their  work 
well ;  horses,  wounded  to  death  or  dead,  began  to  cumber  the 
causeway,  and  the  groans  and  prayers  of  their  masters  caught 
under  them  were  horrible  to  hear.  Once,  with  laughter  and 
taunting  jests,  the  infidels  retreated  down  the  slope ;  and 
once,  some  of  them,  close  pressed,  leaped  into  the  canal 
The  lake  received  them  kindly ;  with  all  their  harness 
on  they  swam  ashore.  Never  was  Sandoval  so  distressed. 

Meantime,  the  footmen  began  to  come  up  ;  and  as  they 
were  intolerably  galled  by  the  enemy,  who  sometimes  landed 
and  engaged  them  hand  to  hand,  they  clamored  for  those 
in  front  to  move  on.  "  Magarino !  The  bridge,  the 
bridge  !  Forward  !  "  "With  such  cries,  they  pressed  upon 
the  horsemen,  and  reduced  the  space  left  them  for  action. 

At  length  Sandoval  shouted,  — 

"  Ola,  all  who  can  swim  !     Follow  me  !  " 

And  riding  down  the  bank,  he  spurred  into  the  water. 
Many  were  bold  enough  to  follow ;  and  though  some  were 
drowned,  the  greater  part  made  the  passage  safely.  Then 
the  cowering,  shivering  mass  left  behind  without  a  leader, 
became  an  easy  prey ;  and  steadily,  pitilessly,  silently, 
Hualpa  and  his  people  fought,  —  silently,  for  all  the  time  he 
was  listening  for  a  woman's  voice,  the  voice  of  his  beloved. 

And  now,  fast  riding,  Cortes  came  to  the  second  canal, 
with  some  cavaliers  whom  he  rallied  on  the  way ;  behind 
him,  as  if  in  pursuit,  so  madly  did  they  run,  followed  all  of 
the  central  division  who  succeeded  in  passing  the  bridge. 
The  sick  and  wounded,  the  prisoners,  even  king  Cacama 
and  the  women,  abandoned  by  their  escort,  were  slain  and 
captured,  —  all  save  Marina,  rescued  by  some  Tlascalans, 
and  a  Spanish  Amazon,  who  defended  herself  with  sword 
and  shield. 


LA  NOCHE  TEISTE.  573 


At  points  along  the  line  of  flight  the  infidels  intercepted 
the  fugitives.  Many  terrible  combats  ensued.  When  the 
Christians  kept  in  groups,  as  did  most  of  the  veterans,  they 
generally  beat  off  the  assailants.  The  loss  fell  chiefly  upon 
the  Tlascalans,  the  cross-bowmen,  and  arquebusiers,  whose 
arms  the  rain  had  ruined,  and  the  recruits  of  Narvaez,  who,' 
weighted  down  by  their  treasure  and  overcome  by  fear,  ran 
blindly  along,  and  fell  almost  without  resistance. 

One  great  effort  Cortes  made  at  the  canal  to  restore 
order  before  the  mob  could  come  up. 

"  God  help  us  ! "  he  cried  at  last  to  the  gentlemen  with 
him.  "  Here  are  bowmen  and  gunners  without  arms,  and 
horsemen  without  room  to  charge.  Nothing  now  but  to  save 
ourselves  !  And  that  we  may  not  do,  if  we  wait.  Let  us 
follow  Sandoval.  Hearken  to  the  howling  !  How  fast  they 
come !  And  by  my  conscience,  with  them  they  bring  the 
lake  alive  with  fiends  !  Olmedo,  thou  with  me !  Come, 
Morla,  Avila,  Olid  !  Come,  all  who  care  for  life  !  " 

And  through  the  melee  they  pushed,  through  the  murder 
ous  lancers,  down  the  bank,  —  Cortes  first,  and  good 
knights  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  father.  There  was 
plunging  and  floundering  of  horses,  and  yells  of  infidels,  and 
the  sound  of  deadly  blows,  and  from  the  swimmers  shrieks 
for  help,  now  to  comrades,  now  to  saints,  now  to  Christ. 

"  Ho,  Sandoval,  right  glad  am  I  to  find  thee  ! "  said 
Cortes,  on  the  further  side  of  the  canal.  "Why  waitest 
thou?" 

"  For  the  coming  of  the  bridge,  Senor." 

"  Bastante  !  Take  what  thou  hast,  and  gallop  to  the  next 
canal.  I  will  do  thy  part  here." 

And  dripping  from,  the  plunge  in  the  lake,  chilled  by  the 
calamity  more  than  by  the  chill  wind,  and  careless  of  the 
stones  and  arrows  that  hurtled  about  him,  he  faced  the  fight, 
and  waited,  saying  simply,  — "  0  good  Mother,  hasten 
Magarino !  " 


574  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


Never  prayer  more  hearty,  never  prayer  more  needed  ! 
For  the  central  division  had  passed,  and  Alvarado  had  come 
and  gone,  and  down  the  causeway  to  the  city  no  voice  of 
Christian  was  to  be  heard ;  at  hand,  only  the  infidels  with 
their  melancholy  cry,  of  unknown  import,  "  0,  0  luilones  ! 
0,  0  luilones  !  "  Then  Magarino  summoned  his  Tlascalans 
and  Christians  to  raise  the  bridge.  How  many  of  them  had 
died  the  death  of  the  faithful,  how  many  had  basely  fled,  he 
knew  not ;  the  darkness  covered  the  glory  as  well  as  the 
shame.  To  work  he  went.  And  what  sickness  of  the  spirit, 
what  agony  ineffable  seized  him  !  The  platform  was  too 
fast  fixed  in  the  rocks  to  be  moved  !  Awhile  he  fought, 
awhile  toiled,  awhile  prayed  ;  all  without  avail.  In  his 
ears  lingered  the  parting  words  of  Cortes,  and  he  stayed 
though  his  hope  was  gone.  Every  moment  added  to  the 
dead  and  wounded  around  him,  yet  he  stayed.  He  was 
the  dependence  of  the  army  :  how  could  he  leave  the 
bridge  1  His  men  deserted  him ;  at  last  he  was  almost 
alone ;  before  him  was  a  warrior  whose  shield  when  struck 
gave  back  the  ring  of  iron,  and  whose  blows  came  with  the 
weight  of  iron ;  while  around  closer  and  closer  circled  the 
white  uniforms  of  the  infidels  ;  then  he  cried,  — 

"  God's  curse  upon  the  bridge  !  What  mortals  can,  my 
men,  we  have  done  to  save  it ;  enough  now,  if  we  save  our 
selves  ! " 

And  drawn  by  the  great  law,  supreme  in  times  of  such 
peril,  they  came  together,  and  retired  across  the  bridge. 

Then  rose  the  cry,  "  Todo  es  per  dido  /  All  is  lost !  The 
bridge  cannot  be  raised  !  "  And  along  the  causeway  from 
mouth  to  mouth  the  warning  flew,  of  such  dolorous  effect 
as  not  merely  to  unman  all  who  heard  it,  but  to  take  from 
them  the  instincts  to  which  life  so  painfully  intrusts  itself 
when  there  is  no  judgment  left.  Those  defending  them 
selves  quitted  fighting,  and  turned  to  fly  ;  except  tbe  gold, 


LA  NOCHE  TRISTE.  575 

which  they  clutched  all  the  closer,  many  flung  away  every 
thing  that  impeded  them,  even  the  arquebuses,  so  precious 
in  Cortes'  eyes  ;  guns  dragged  safely  so  far  were  rolled  into 
the  lake  or  left  on  the  road ;  the  horses  caught  the  con 
tagion,  and,  becoming  unmanageable,  ran  madly  upon  the 
footmen. 

When  the  cry,  outflying  the  fugitives  with  whom  it  began, 
reached  the-thousands  at  the  second  canal,  it  had  somewhere 
borrowed  a  phrase  yet  more  demoralizing.  "The  bridge 
cannot  be  raised !  All  is  lost !  Save  yourselves,  save  your 
selves  /"  Such  was  its  form  there.  And  about  that  time,  as 
ill-fortune  ordered,  the  infidels  had  gathered  around  the  fatal 
place  until,  by  their  yells  and  missiles  there  seemed  to  be 
myriads  of  them.  Along  the  causeway  their  canoes  lay 
wedged  in,  like  a  great  raft ;  and  bolder  grown,  they  flung 
themselves  bodily  on  the  unfortunates,  and  strove  to  carry 
them  off  alive.  Enough  if  they  dragged  them  down  the 
slope,  —  innumerable  hands  were  ready  at  the  water's  edge  to 
take  them  speedily  beyond  rescue.  Momentarily,  also,  the 
yell  of  the  fighting  men  of  Tenochtitlan,  surging  from  the 
city  under  the  'tzin,  drew  nearer  and  nearer,  driving  the 
rear  upon  the  front,  already  on  the  verge  of  the  canal 
with  barely  room  for  defense  against  Hualpa  and  his 
people.  All  that  held  the  sufferers  passive,  all  that  gave 
them  endurance,  the  virtue  rarer  and  greater  than  patience, 
was  the  hope  of  the  coming  of  Magarino ;  and  the  an 
nouncement,  at '  last,  that  the  bridge  could  not  be  raised, 
was  as  the  voice  of  doom  over  their  heads.  Instantly, 
they  saw  death  behind  them,  and  life  nowhere  but  for 
ward,  —  so  always  with  panic.  An  impulse  moved  them, 
—  they  rushed  on,  they  pushed  each  with  the  might 
of  despair.  "  Save  yourselves,  save  yourselves  !  "  they 
screamed,  at  the  same  time  no  one  thought  of  any  but 
himself. 


576  THE   FAIR   GOD. 


To  make  the  scene  clear  to  the  reader,  he  should  re 
member  that  the  causeway  was  but  eight  yards  across  its 
superior  slope  ;  while  the  canal,  about  as  wide,  and  crossing 
at  right  angles,  was  on  both  sides  walled  with  dressed  ma 
sonry  to  the  height,  probably,  of  twelve  feet,  with  water  at 
least  deep  enough  to  drown  a  horse.  Ordinarily,  the  peril 
of  the  passage  would  have  been  scorned  by  a  stout  swim 
mer  ;  but,  alas  !  such  were  not  all  who  must  make  the  at 
tempt  now. 

The  first  victims  of  the  movement  I  have  described  were 
those  in  the  front  fighting  Hualpa.  ISTo  time  for  preparation  : 
with  shields  on  their  arms,  if  footmen,  on  their  horses,  if 
riders,  —  a  struggle  on  the  verge,  a  cry  for  pity,  a  despairing 
shriek,  and  into  the  yawning  chasm  they  were  plunged  ;  nor 
had  the  water  time  to  close  above  their  heads  before  as 
many  others  were  dashed  in  upon  them. 

Cortes,  on  the  further  side,  could  only  hear  what  took 
place  in  the  canal,  for  the  darkness  hid  it  from  view  ;  yet 
he  knew  that  at  his  feet  was  a  struggle  for  life  impossible  to 
be  imagined  except  as  something  that  might  happen  in  the 
heart  of  the  vortex  left  by  a  ship  foundering  at  sea.  The 
screams,  groans,  prayers,  and  execrations  of  men ;  the  neigh 
ing,  snorting,  and  plunging  of  horses  ;  the  bubbling,  hiss 
ing,  and  plashing  of  water ;  the  writhing  and  fighting,  — 
a  wretch  a  moment  risen,  in  a  moment  gone,  his  death-cry 
half  uttered ;  the  rolling  of  the  mass,  or  rather  its  impul 
sion  onward,  which,  horrible  to  think,  might  be  the  fast 
filling  up  of  the  passage  ;  now  and  then  a  piteous  appeal  for 
help  under  the  wall,  reached  at  last  (and  by  what  mighty 
exertion!)  only  to  mock  the  hopes  of  the  swimmers, —  all  this 
Cortes  heard,  and  more.  No  need  of  light  to  make  the 
scene  visible  ;  no  need  to  see  the  dying  and  the  drowning, 
or  the  last  look  of  eyes  fixed  upon  him  as  they  went  down, 
a  look  as  likely  to  be  a  curse  as  a  prayer  !  If  never  before  or 


LA   NOCHE  TRISTE.  577 


never  again,  his  courage  failed  him  then ;  and  turning  his 
horse  he  fled  the  place,  shouting  as  he  went,  — 

"  Todo  es  perdido !  all  is  lost !  Save  yourselves,  save 
yourselves  !  " 

And  in  his  absence  the  horror  continued,  —  continued 
until  the  canal  from  side  to  side  was  filled  with  the  bodies 
of  men  and  horses,  blent  with  arms  and  ensigns,  baggage, 
and  guns,  and  gun-carriages,  and  munitions  in  boxes  and 
carts,  —  the  rich  plunder  of  the  empire,  royal  fifth  as  well  as 
humbler  dividend,  —  and  all  the  paraphernalia  of  armies, 
infidel  and  Christian ;  filled,  until  most  of  those  who  es 
caped  clambered  over  the  warm  and  writhing  heap  of  what 
had  so  lately  been  friends  and  comrades.  And  the  gods  of 
the  heathen  were  not  forgotten  by  their  children ;  for  suf 
ferers  there  were  who,  snatching  at  hands  offered  in  help, 
were  dragged  into  canoes,  and  never  heard  of  more.  Tears 
and  prayers  and  the  saving  grace  of  the  Holy  Mother  and 
Son  for  them  !  Better  death  in  the  canal,  however  dread 
ful,  than  death  in  the  temples,  —  for  the  soul's  rest,  better  ! 

Slowly  along  the  causeway,  meantime,  Alvarado  toiled 
with  the  rear-guard.  Very  early  he  had  given  up  Leon 
and  Mesa,  and  all  with  them,  as  lost.  And  to  say  truth, 
little  time  had  he  to  think  of  them ;  for  now,  indeed,  he 
found  the  duties  of  lover  and  soldier  difficult  as  they  had 
been  pleasant.  Gay  of  spirit,  boastful  but  not  less  generous 
and  brave,  skilful  and  reckless,  he  was  of  the  kind  to  attract 
and  dazzle  the  adventurers  with  whom  he  had  cast  his  lot ; 
and  now  they  were  ready  to  do  his  bidding,  and  equally 
ready  to  share  his  fate,  life  or  death.  Of  them  he  consti 
tuted  a  body-guard  for  Nenetzin.  Rough  riders  were  they, 
yet  around  her  they  formed,  more  careful  of  her  than 
themselves ;  against  them  rattled  and  rang  the  stones  and 
arrows  ;  against  them  dashed  the  infidels  landed  from  their 
canoes  ;  sometimes  a  cry  announced  a  hurt,  sometimes  a  fall 
25  KK 


578  THE   FAIR  GOD. 


announced  a  death  ;  but  never  hand  of  foe  or  flying  mis 
sile  reached  the  curtained  carriage  in  which  rode  the  little 
princess. 

Nor  can  it  be  said  that  Alvarado,  so  careful  as  lover,  tailed 
his  duty  as  captain.  Sometimes  at  the  rear,  facing  the  'tzin  ; 
sometimes,  with  a  laugh  or  a  kiss  of  the  hand,  by  the 
palanquin  ;  and  always  his  cry,  blasphemous  yet  cheerful, 
"  Viva  a  Christo  !  Viva  Santa  Cruz  !  Santiago,  Santiago  !  " 
So  from  mistress  and  men  he  kept  off  the  evil  bird  Fear. 
The  stout  mare  Bradamante  gave  him  most  concern ;  she 
obeyed  willingly,  —  indeed,  seemed  better  when  in  action ; 
yet  was  restless  and  uneasy,  and  tossed  her  head,  and  —  un 
pardonable  as  a  habit  in  the  horse  of  a  soldier  —  cried  for 
company. 

"  So-a,  girl !  "  he  would  say,  as  never  doubting  that  she 
understood  him.  "  "What  seest  thou  that  I  do  not  1  or  is 
it  what  thou  nearest  1  Fear  !  If  one  did  but  say  to  me  that 
thou  Avert  cowardly,  better  for  him  that  he  spoke  ill  of  my 
mother !  But  here  they  come  again  !  Upon  them  now ! 
Upon  them,  sweetheart !  Viva  d  Christo  !  Viva  la  Santa 
Cruz  !  " 

And  so,  fighting,  he  crossed  the  bridge ;  and  still  all  went 
well  with  him.  Out  of  the  way  he  chased  the  foe ;  on  the 
flanks  they  were  beaten  off;  only  at  the  rear  were  they 
troublesome,  for  there  the  'tzin  led  the  pursuit. 

Finally,  the  rear-guard  closed  upon  the  central  division, 
which,  having  reached  the  second  canal,  stood,  in  what  con 
dition  we  have  seen,  waiting  for  Magarino.  Then  Alvarado 
hurried  to  the  palanquin ;  and  while  there,  now  checking 
Bradamante,  whose  uneasiness  seemed  to  increase  as  they 
advanced,  now  cheering  Nenetzin,  he  heard  the  fatal  cry 
proclaiming  the  loss  of  the  bridge.  -On  his  lips  the  jest 
faded,  in  his  heart  the  blood  stood  still.  A  hundred  voices 
took  up  the  cry,  and  there  was  hurry  and  alarm  around  him, 


LA  NOCHE  TEISTE.  579 

and  he  felt  the  first  pressure  of  the  impulsive  movement 
forward.  The  warning  was  not  lost  :  — 

"  Ola,  my  friends  !  "  he  said,  at  once  aroused,  "  Hell's 
door  of  brass  hath  been  opened,  and  the  devils  are  loose  ! 
Keep  we  together  — 

As  he  spoke  the  pressure  strengthened,  and  the  crowd 
yelled  "  Todo  es  perdido  !  Save  yourselves  !  " 

Up  went  his  visor,  out  rang  his  voice  in  fierce  appeal,  — 

"  Together  let  us  bide,  gentlemen.  We  are  Spaniards,  and 
in  our  saddles,  with  swords  and  shields.  The  foe  are  the 
dogs  who  have  bayed  us  so  to  their  cost  for  days  and  weeks. 
On  the  right  and  left,  as  ye  are  !  Eemember,  the  woman  we 
have  here  is  a  Christian  ;  she  hath  broken  the  bread  and 
drunken  the  wine ;  her  God  is  our  God  ;  and  if  we  abandon 
her,  may  he  abandon  us  !  " 

Not  a  rider  left  his  place.  The  division  went  to  pieces, 
and  rushed  forward,  sweeping  all  before  it  except  the  palan 
quin  ;  as  a  boat  in  a  current,  that  floated  on,  —  fierce  the 
current,  yet  placid  the  motion  of  the  boat.  And  nestled 
warm  within,  ISTenetzin  heard  the  tumult  as  something  terri 
ble  afar  off. 

And  all  the  time  Hualpa  kept  the  fight  by  the  canal. 
Hours  passed.  The  dead  covered  the  slopes  of  the  causeway  ; 
on  the  top  they  lay  in  heaps  ;  the  canal  choked  with  them  ; 
still  the  stream  of  enemies  poured  on  roaring  and  fighting. 
Over  the  horrible  bridge  he  saw  some  Tlascalans  carry  two 
women,  —  neither  of  them  Nenetzin.  Another  woman  came 
up  and  crossed,  but  she  had  sword  and  shield,  and  used 
them,  shrilly  shouting  the  war-cries  of  the  strangers.  Out 
towards  the  land  the  battle  followed  the  fugitives,  —  beyond 
the  third  canal  even,  —  and  everywhere  victory  !  Surely, 
the  Aztecan  gods  had  vindicated  themselves  ;  and  for  the 
'tzin  there  was  glory  immeasurable.  But  where  Avas  Nenet- 
ein  1  where  the  hated  Tonatiah  1  Why  came  they  not  ] 


580  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


In  the  intervals  of  the  slaughter  he  began  to  be  shaken  by 
visions  of  the  laughing  lipa  and  dimpled  cheeks  of  the  loved 
face  out  in  the  rain  crushed  by  a  hoof  or  a  wheel.  At  other 
times,  when  the  awful  chorus  of  the  struggle  swelled  loudest, 
he  fancied  he  heard  her  voice  in  agony  of  fear  and  pain. 
Almost  he  regretted  not  having  sought  her,  instead  of  wait 
ing  as  he  had. 

Near  morning  from  the  causeway  toward  the  city  he  heard 
two  cries,  - —  "Al-a-lala  !  "  one,  "  Viva  d  Christo  !  "  the  other. 
Friend  most  loved,  foe  most  hated,  woman  most  adored  ! 
How  good  the  gods  were  to  send  them  !  His  spirit  rose,  all 
its  strength  returned. 

Of  his  warriors,  six  were  with  the  slain;  the  others  he 
called  together,  and  said,  — 

"  The  'tzin  comes,  and  the  Tonatiah.  Now,  0  my  friends,  I 
claim  your  service.  But  forget  not,  I  charge  you,  forget  not 
her  of  whom  I  spoke.  Harm  her  not.  Be  ready  to  follow  me." 

He  waited  until  the  guardians  of  the  palanquin  were  close 
by,  —  until  he  heard  their  horses'  tread ;  then  he  shouted, 
"  Now,  0  my  countrymen !  Be  the  'tzin's  cry  our  cry ! 
Follow  me.  Al-a-lala,  al-a-lala  !  " 

The  rough  riders  faced  the  attack,  thinking  it  a  repetition 
of  others  they  had  lightly  turned  aside  on  the  way;  but 
when  their  weapons  glanced  from  iron-faced  shields,  and  they 
recognized  tho  thrust  of  steel ;  when  their  horses  shrunk 
from  the  contact  or  staggered  with  mortal  hurts,  and  some 
of  them  fell  down  dying,  then  they  gave  way  to  a  torrent  of 
exclamations  so  seasoned  with  holy  names  that  they  could 
be  as  well  taken  for  prayers  as  curses.  Surprised,  dismayed, 
retreating,  —  with  scarce  room  for  defence  and  none  for 
•attack,  still  they  struggled  to  maintain  themselves.  Sharp 
the  clangor  of  axes  on  shields,  merciless  the  thrust  of  the 
blades,  —  cry  answered  cry.  Death  to  the  horse,  if  he  but 
reared  ;  to  the  rider  death,  if  his  horse  but  stumbled.  Never 


LA   NOCHE  TRISTE.  581 


theless,  step  by  step  the  patient  Indian  lover  approached  the 
palanquin.  Then  that  which  had  been  as  a  living  wall 
around  the  girl  was  broken.  One  of  her  slaves  fell  down, 
struck  by  a  stone.  Her  scream,  though  shrill  with  sudden 
fear,  was  faint  amid  the  discordances  of  storm  and  fight ; 
yet  two  of  the  combatants  heard  it,  and  rushed  to  the  res 
cue.  And  now  Hualpa's  hand  was  on  the  fallen  carriage 
—  happy  moment!  "  Viva  d  Christo  !  Santiago,  Santi 
ago ! "  thundered  Alvarado.  The  exultant  infidel  looked 
up  :  right  over  him,  hiding  the  leaden  sky,  —  a  dark  im 
pending  danger,  —  reared  Bradamante.  He  thrust  quickly, 
and  the  blade  on  the  lance  was  true ;  with  a  cry,  in  its 
excess  of  agony  almost  human,  the  mare  reared,  fell  back, 
and  died.  As  she  fell,  one  foot,  heavy  with  its  silver  shoe, 
struck  him  to  the  ground  ;  and  would  that  were  all ! 

"  Ola,  comrades ! "  cried  Alvarado,  upon  his  feet  again,  to 
some  horsemen  dismounted  like  himself.  "  Look  !  the  girl 
is  dying !  Help  me !  as  ye  hope  for  life,  stay  and  help 
me  !  " 

They  laid  hold  of  the  mare,  and  rolled  her  away.  The 
morning  light  rested  upon  the  place  feebly,  as  if  afraid  of  its 
own  revelations.  On  the  causeway,  in  the  lake,  in  the  canal, 
were  many  horrors  to  melt  a  heart  of  stone ;  one  fixed  Alva- 
rado's  gaze,  — 

"  Dead  !  she  is  dead !  "  he  said,  falling  upon  his  knees, 
and  covering  his  eyes  with  his  hands,  "  O  mother  of  Christ ! 
What  have  I  done  that  this  should  befall  me  1 " 

Under  the  palanquin,  —  its  roof  of  aromatic  cedar,  thin  as 
tortoise  shell,  and  its  frame  of  bamboo,  light  as  the  cane  of 
the  maize,  all  a  heap  of  fragments  now,  —  under  the  wreck 
lay  Nenetzin.  About  her  head  the  blue  curtains  of  the  car 
riage  were  wrapped  in  accidental  folds,  making  the  pallor  of 
the  face  more  pallid  ;  the  lips  so  given  to  laughter  were 
ilark  with  flowing  blood ;  and  the  eyes  had  looked  theii 


582  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


love  the  last  time ;  one  little  hand  rested  palm  upward  upon 
the  head  of  a  dead  warrior,  and  in  it  shone  the  iron  cross  of 
Christ.  Bradamante  had  crushed  her  to  death  !  And  this, 
the  crowning  horror  of  the  melancholy  night,  was  what  the 
good  mare  saw  on  the  way  that  her  master  did  not,  —  so  the 
master  ever  after  believed. 

1  The  pain  of  grief  was  new  to  the  good  captain ;  while  yet  it 
so  overcame  him,  a  man  laid  a  hand  roughly  on  his  shoulder, 
and  said,  — 

"  Look  thou,  Seiior  !  She  is  in  Paradise,  while  of  those 
who,  at  thy  call,  stayed  to  help  thee  save  her  but  seven  are 
left.  If  not  thyself,  up  and  help  us  !  " 

The  justice  of  the  rude  appeal  aroused  him,  and  he  retook 
his  sword  and  shield,  and  joined  in  the  fight,  —  eight 
against  the  many.  About  them  closed  the  lancers ;  facing 
whom  one  by  one  the  brave  men  died,  until  only  Alvarado 
remained.  Over  the  clashing  of  arms  then  rang  the  'tzin's 
voice,  — 

"  It  is  the  Tonatiah  !  Take  him,  0  my  children,  but  harm 
him  not ;  his  life  belongs  to  the  gods  !  " 

Fortunately  for  Alvarado  a  swell  of  Christian  war-cries 
and  the  beat  of  galloping  horses  came,  about  the  same  time, 
from  the  further  side  of  the  canal  to  distract  the  attention 
of  his  foemen.  Immediately  Cortes  appeared,  with  San- 
doval,  MorL,,  Avila,  and  others,  —  brave  gentlemen  come 
back  from  the  land,  which  they  had  safely  gained,  to  save 
whom  they  might  of  the  rear-guard.  At  the  dread  passage 
all  of  them  drew  rein  except  Morla ;  down  the  slope  of  the  dyke 
he  rode,  and  spurring  into  the  lake,  through  the  canoes  and 
floating  debris,  he  headed  to  save  his  friend.  Useless  the 
gallantry  !  The  assault  upon  Alvarado  had  ceased,  —  with 
what  purpose  he  knew.  Never  shoul.L  they  take  him  alive  I 
Ilualpa's  lance,  of  great  length,  was  lying  at  his  feet.  Sud 
denly,  casting  away  his '  sword  and  shield,  he  snatched  up 


LA  NOCHE  TRISTE.  583 


his  enemy's  weapon,  broke  the  ring  that  girdled  him,  ran  to 
the  edge  of  the  canal,  and  vaulted  in  air.  Loud  the  cry  of 
the  Christians,  louder  that  of  the  infidels  !  An  instant  he 
seemed  to  halt  in  his  flight ;  an  instant  more,  and  his 
famous  feat  was  performed,  —  the  chasm  was  cleared,  and  he 
stood  amongst  his  people  saved. 

Alas  for  Morla !  An  infidel  sprang  down  the  dike,  and 
by  running  and  leaping  from  canoe  to  canoe  overtook  him 
while  in  the  lake. 

"  Sword  and  shield,  Senor  Francisco  !  Sword  and  shield  ! 
Look  !  The  foe  is  upon  thee  !  " 

So  he  was  warned  ;  but  quick  the  action.  First,  a  blow 
with  a  Christian  axe  :  down  sank  the  horse  ;  then  a  blow 
upon  the  helmet,  and  the  wave  that  swallowed  the  steed  re 
ceived  the  rider  also. 

"  Al-a-lala  !  "  shouted  the  victor. 

"  The  'tzin,  the  'tzin  !  "  answered  his  people  ;  and  forward 
they  sprang,  over  the  canoes,  over  the  bridge  of  the  dead,  — 
forward  to  get  at  their  hated  enemies  again. 

"  Welcome  art  thou  !  "  said  Cortes  to  Alvarado.  "  Wel 
come  as  from  the  grave,  whither  Morla  —  God  rest  his  soul ! 
—  hath  gone.  Where  is  Leon  ] " 

"  With  Morla,"  answered  the  captain. 

"  And  Mesa  1 " 

"  Isray,  Senor  Hernan,  if  thou  stayest  here  for  any  of  the 
rear-guard,  know  that  I  am  the  last  of  them." 

"  Bastante  !  Hear  ye,  gentlemen  '?  "  said  Cortes.  "  Our 
duty  is  done.  Let  us  to  the  land  again.  Here  is  my  foot, 
here  my  hand  :  mount,  captain,  and  quickly  !  " 

Alvarado  took  the  seat  offered  behind  Cortes,  and  the 
party  set  out  in  retreat  again.  Closely,  across  the  third 
canal,  along  the  causeway  to  the  village  of  Popotla,  the  'tzin 
kept  the  pursuit.  From  the  village,  and  from  Tlacopan  the 
city,  he  drove  the  bleeding  and  bewildered  fugitivas.  At 


584  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


last  they  took  possession  of  a  temple,  from  which,  as  from 
a  fortress,  they  successfully  defended  themselves.  Then  the 
'tzin  gave  over,  and  returned  to  the  capital. 

And  his  return  was  as  the  savior  of  his  country,  —  the 
victorious  companies  behind  him,  the  great  flotillas  on  his 
right  and  left,  and  the  clouds  overhead  rent  by  the  sounding 
of  conchs  and  tambours  and  the  singing  and  shouting  of  the 
proud  and  happy  people. 

Fast  throbbed  his  heart,  for  now  he  knew,  if  the  crown 
were  not  indeed  his,  its  prestige  and  power  were ;  and 
amidst  fast-coming  schemes  for  the  restoration  of  the  empire, 
he  thought  of  the  noble  Tula,  and  then,  —  he  halted  sud 
denly  :  — 

"  Where  is  the  lord  Hualpa  1  "  he  asked. 

"  At  the  second  canal,"  answered  a  cacique. 

"  And  he  is  —  " 

"  Dead  ! " 

The  proud  head  drooped,  and  the  hero  forgot  his  greatness 
and  his  dreams ;  he  was  the  loving  friend  again,  and  as  such, 
sorrowing  and  silent,  repassed  the  second  canal,  and  stood 
upon  the  causeway  beyond.  And  the  people,  with  quick 
understanding  of  what  he  sought,  made  way  for  him.  Over 
the  wrecks  of  the  battle,  —  sword  and  shield,  helm  and 
breastplate,  men  and  horses,  —  he  walked  to  where  the  lover 
and  his  beloved  lay. 

At  sight  of  her  face,  more  childlike  and  beautiful  than 
ever,  memory  brought  to  him  the  sad  look,  the  low  voice, 
and  the  last  words  of  Hualpa,  —  "If  I  come  not  with  the 
rising  sun  to-morrow,  Nenetzin  can  tell  you  my  story,"  — 
such  were  the  words.  The  iron  cross  was  yet  in  her  hand, 
and  the  hand  yet  rested  on  the  head  of  a  warrior  lying  near. 
The  ,'tzin  stooped,  and  turned  the  dead  man  over,  and  lo  ! 
the  lord  Hualpa.  From  one  to  the  other  the  princely  mourner 
looked ;  a  mist,  not  of  the  lake  or  the  cloud,  rose  and  hid 


LA   NOCHE  TRISTE.  585 


them  from  his  view  ;  he  turned  away,  —  she  had  told  him  all 
the  story. 

In  a  canoe,  side  by  side,  the  two  victims  were  borne  to  the 
city,  never  to  be  separated.  At  Chapultepec  they  were  laid 
in  the  same  tomb  ;  so  that  one  day  the  dust  of  the  hunter, 
with  that  of  kings,  may  feed  the  grass  and  color  the  flowers 
of  the  royal  hill. 

HE   HAD   FOUND   HIS   FORTUNE  ! 


Here  the  chronicles  of  the  learned  Don  Fernando  abruptly 
terminate.  For  the  satisfaction  of  the  reader,  a  profes 
sional  story-teller  would  no  doubt  have  devoted  several 
pages  to  the  careers  of  some  of  the  characters  whom  he 
leaves  surviving  the  catastrophe.  The  translator  is  not  dis 
posed  to  think  his  author  less  courteous  than  literators  gen 
erally  ;  on  the  contrary,  the  books  abound  with  evidences  of 
the  tender  regard  he  had  for  those  who  might  chance  to 
occupy  themselves  with  his  pages ;  consequently,  there  must 
have  been  a  reason  for  the  apparent  neglect  in  question. 

If  the  worthy  gentleman  were  alive,  and  the  objection 
made  to  him  in  person,  he  would  most  likely  have  replied  : 
"  Gentle  critic,  what  you  take  for  neglect  was  but  a  compli 
ment  to  your  intelligence.  The  characters  with  which  I 
dealt  were  for  the  most  part  furnished  me  by  history.  The 
few  of  my  own  creation  were  exclusively  heathen,  and  of 
them,  except  the  lord  Maxtla  and  Xoli,  the  Chalcan,  dis 
position  is  made  in  one  part  or  another  of  the  story.  The 
two  survivors  named,  it  is  to  be  supposed,  were  submerged  in 
the  ruin  that  fell  upon  the  country  after  the  conquest  was 
finally  completed.  The  other  personages  being  real,  for  per 
fect  satisfaction  as  to  them,  permit  me,  with  the  profoundest 
respect,  to  refer  you  to  your  histories  again." 
25* 


586  THE  FAIR  GOD. 


The  translator  has  nothing  to  add  to  the  explanation  ex 
cept  brief  mention  that  the  king  Cuitlahua's  reign  lasted 
but  two  months  in  all.  The  small-pox,  which  desolated  the 
city  and  valley,  and  contributed,  more  than  any  other  cause, 
to  the  ultimate  overthrow  of  the  empire,  sent  him  to  the  tombs 
of  Chapultepec.  Guatamozin  then  took  the  vacant  throne, 
and  as  king  exemplified  still  further  the  qualities  which  had 
made  him  already  the  idol  of  his  people  and  the  hero  of  his 
race.  Some  time  also,  but  whether  before  or  after  his  corona 
tion  we  are  not  told,  he  married  the  noble  Tula,  —  an  event 
which  will  leave  the  readers  of  the  excellent  Don  Fernando 
in  doubt  whether  Mualox,  the  paba,  was  not  more  prophet 
than  monomaniac. 


THE  END. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY,  LOS  ANGELES 

COLLEGE  LIBRARY 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


Oct 
Get  1 


4  55 


Book  Slip-15?n-8,'58(5890s4)4280 


Libra 


-0057691693 


A    001313058    8 


